Read more of Cultivation of Angraecum acutipetalum Schltr.
Culture:
Light:
1200-2300 fc. Light should be filtered or diffused, and plants should not be exposed to direct midday sun. Strong air movement should be provided at all times.
Temperatures:
Summer days average 78-80F (26-27C), and nights average 60-61F (16C), with a diurnal range of 17-20F (10-11C).
Humidity:
75-80% most of the year, dropping to near 65% for a short time in spring.
Water:
Rainfall is very heavy from late spring to early autumn. Amounts then decrease fairly rapidly at the beginning of the 5-month dry season, which lasts from late autumn to early spring. Cultivated plants should be watered heavily while actively growing. Water should be reduced after new growth is completed in autumn.
Fertilizer:
1/4-1/2 recommended strength, applied weekly when plants are actively growing. Many growers use a balanced fertilizer all year. Others, however, prefer to use a high-nitrogen fertilizer from spring to midsummer and then switch to a high-phosphate formula in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
Winter days average 68-70F (20-21C), and nights average 48-50F (9-10C), with a diurnal range of 19-22F (11-12C). Rainfall in the habitat is low in winter, but additional moisture usually is available from heavy dew and mist. Cultivated plants need less water in winter, but they should not dry out completely or stay dry for long periods. Fairly regular early-morning mistings between infrequently light waterings should provide sufficient moisture in most growing areas. Fertilizer should be reduced or eliminated until new growth starts and heavier watering is resumed in spring.
Growing media:
Plants may be mounted tightly to a tree-fern or cork slab with a pad of moss under the roots. If mounted, however, high humidity must be maintained and the plants watered at least once daily in summer. Several waterings a day may be necessary for mounted plants during extremely hot, dry weather. Plants may also be grown in pots or baskets, but because of the heavy water requirements, the medium should be open and fast-draining. Roots should be able to dry rapidly after watering, and the medium should never be allowed to become stale or soggy. Repotting or dividing should be done only when new root growth is just starting. This allows the plant to become established in the shortest possible time with the least amount of stress.
References:
This information is quoted from a Charles and Margaret Baker culture sheet, with permission from Troy Meyers
