Read more of Cultivation of Angraecum distichum Lindl.
Culture:
Light:
1800-2500 fc. Dappled to moderately bright light is suggested initially. Midday sun should be filtered or diffused, because hot, direct sun can quickly burn the leaves. However, growers report that good light seems to stimulate almost continuous flowering. Strong air movement should be provided at all times.
Temperatures:
Throughout the year, days average 78-84F (26-29C), and nights average 69-72F (21-22C), with a diurnal range of 9-13F (5-7C). Angraecum distichum is distributed as far inland as Uganda, so it should adapt to nighttime temperatures which are as much as 6-8F (3-4C) cooler with a correspondingly larger diurnal range than shows in the preceding climate table.
Humidity:
85-90% most of the year, dropping to near 80% for a brief period in winter.
Water:
Rainfall is very heavy most of the year, with a somewhat less-wet period for 2-3 months in winter. Cultivated plants should be watered heavily while actively growing, but they must have excellent drainage and conditions around the roots should never be stale or soggy. Water should be gradually reduced during autumn. Pottinger (1983) states that "when in active growth my plant receives a good soaking two or three times a week, drying out thoroughly between times."
Fertilizer:
1/4–1/2 recommended strength, applied weekly when plants are actively growing. Many growers use a balanced fertilizer throughout the year, but others prefer to use a high-nitrogen fertilizer from spring to midsummer, switching to a high-phosphate formula in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
Growing temperatures should be maintained all year. Rainfall is lower in winter, but heavy dew provides additional moisture, so it is unlikely that plants ever dry out completely. Cultivated plants may need less water in winter, especially if they are grown in the dark, short-day conditions common in temperate latitudes. Plants should never be dry for long periods.
Growing media:
The growth habitat suggests that plants may be most easily managed if mounted on a cork or tree-fern slab or placed in a well-drained, hanging container. Mounted plants need high humidity, however, and during hot, dry weather, they may require several waterings a day. If it is difficult to keep mounted plants adequately moist, plants may be grown in a hanging pot or basket filled with a very open, fast-draining medium. Some growers use medium-sized fir bark or shredded tree-fern fiber and add chunky perlite, which helps the medium stay open and also retains some moisture. Adding charcoal in the mix also helps hold the medium open and keeps it from becoming sour. Many Angraecum species do not grow well after their roots are disturbed, but they respond even more poorly if the medium around the roots is stale or soggy. Plants should be repotted immediately if the medium starts to break down. Repotting is best done just as new roots start to grow.
Miscellaneous notes:
Plants may be in bloom almost throughout the year.
References:
This information is quoted from a Charles and Margaret Baker culture sheet, with permission from Troy Meyers
