Read more of Cultivation of Angraecum cultriforme Summerh.
Culture:
Light:
1800-2500 fc. Initially light should be somewhat 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 77-79F (25-26C), and nights average 65-67F (19-20C), with a diurnal range of 12F (6-7C).
Humidity:
Near 75% most of the year, dropping to 65-70% for 3-4 months in late autumn and early winter.
Water:
Rainfall is moderate to heavy from spring into autumn. Amounts then decrease and remain somewhat low during a relatively dry season that lasts 3-4 months from late autumn through winter. Cultivated plants should be watered heavily when actively growing; but their roots must dry rapidly after watering, and conditions around the roots should never become stale or soggy. Water should be gradually reduced in late autumn.
Fertilizer:
1/4–1/2 recommended strength, applied weekly when plants are actively growing. Many growers prefer to use a balanced fertilizer throughout the year; but others use a high-nitrogen fertilizer from spring to midsummer, then switch to one high in phosphates in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
Winter days average 70-71F (21-22C), and nights average 50-53F (10-12C), with a diurnal range of 17-20F (9-11C). Rainfall is somewhat lower in winter, but conditions are not extremely dry for long periods. Even though rainfall is low during the dry season, additional moisture is available from heavy dew, so plants usually receive at least some moisture on a fairly regular basis. Cultivated plants need less water in winter, but mounted plants should never go without water for very long and potted plants should never dry out completely. Fertilizer should be reduced or eliminated until heavier watering is resumed in spring.
Growing media:
Plants may be mounted tightly to a tree-fern or cork slab. If mounted, however, humidity must be high and plants need at least daily watering in summer. Several waterings a day may be necessary for mounted plants during extremely hot, dry weather. Plants also may be grown in well-drained pots or baskets, but because of the heavy water requirements, the medium should be open and fast-draining. Roots need dry rapidly after watering, so the medium should never be 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.
Miscellaneous notes:
The bloom season shown in the climate table is based on cultivation records. In South Africa, plants bloom from spring into autumn; but in Zimbabwe, they bloom in summer and early autumn.
References:
This information is quoted from a Charles and Margaret Baker culture sheet, with permission from Troy Meyers
