Read more of Cultivation of Angraecum scottianum Rchb.f.
Culture:
Light:
2000-3000 fc, although plants are reported to grow well with lower light. 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 82F (28C), and nights average 70-72F (21-22C), with a diurnal range of 10-12F (6-7C).
Humidity:
Averages are not available for this location, but records from nearby stations indicate averages of 80-85% most of the year, dropping to near 75% for a month or so in winter.
Water:
Rainfall in the habitat is heavy most of the year, with a somewhat drier period for about 2 months in early spring. Cultivated plants should be watered heavily while actively growing, but the roots must have good aeration, and conditions around the roots should never become stale or soggy. Water should be reduced somewhat when plants are not actively growing, but they should never be allowed to dry out completely.
Fertilizer:
1/4–1/2 recommended strength, applied weekly when plants are actively growing. Many growers 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 76-78F (24-26C), and nights average 63-66F (17-19C), with a diurnal range of 12-14F (7-8C). Rainfall in the habitat is somewhat lower for a couple of months in early spring, but there is not a true dry season. Water should be reduced for cultivated plants in winter, especially those grown in the dark, short-day conditions common in temperate latitudes. They should not be allowed to remain without water for long periods, however. Fertilizer should be reduced or eliminated until new growth starts and heavier watering is resumed in spring.
Growing media:
Plants may be grown in shallow, well-drained containers or mounted on tree-fern slabs. Mounted plants need high humidity, however, and during hot, dry weather they may need several waterings a day. If it is difficult to keep mounted plants moist enough, they may be grown in a shallow pot or basket filled with a very open, fast-draining medium that has excellent drainage, is well aerated, and allows the medium to dry fairly rapidly after watering. Growers generally use medium-sized fir bark or shredded tree-fern fiber and add varying amounts of chunky perlite and/or chopped sphagnum moss to keep the medium open and retain some moisture. Including charcoal in the mix also holds the medium open and prevents souring in the pot. Plants should be repotted immediately if the medium starts to break down or whenever the plant outgrows its container. Repotting should be done just as new roots start to grow. This enables the plant to become reestablished in the shortest possible time.
Miscellaneous notes:
Long blooming and frequent blooming orchid species.
References:
This information is quoted from a Charles and Margaret Baker culture sheet, with permission from Troy Meyers
