Read more of Cultivation of Angraecum sesquipedale Thouars,
Culture:
Light:
2500-3500 fc. Plants need as much diffused light as possible, short of burning the foliage, especially in late summer and autumn. Direct sun may cause sunburn. Strong air movement should be provided at all times.
Temperatures:
Summer days average 83-84F (29C), and nights average 70-72F (21-22C), with a diurnal range of 12-13F (7C).
Humidity:
Near 80% year-round.
Water:
Rainfall is moderate to heavy most of the year, with 2-3 somewhat drier months in late winter and early spring. Plants should be watered heavily while actively growing, but drainage must be excellent, and conditions around the roots should not be stale or soggy. Water should be reduced somewhat by early winter.
Fertilizer:
1/2–3/4 recommended strength, applied weekly when plants are actively growing. Growers indicate that the number of flowers depends on how many leaves develop during the preceding growing season. Many growers apply a balanced fertilizer throughout the year, but others prefer a high-nitrogen fertilizer from spring to midsummer. A high phosphate formula may be beneficial in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
Winter days average 74-75F (23-24C), and nights average 61-62F (16-17C), with a diurnal range of 13F (7C). These night temperatures reflect the coolest conditions under which this orchid should be grown. Because of the relatively large range of distribution, however, plants should adapt to winter lows which are 4-6F (2-3C) warmer than indicated. Rainfall in the habitat is less in late winter and early spring, but no actual dry season occurs. Cultivated plants need less water in winter, but they should not dry out completely or be dry for long periods. Fertilizer should be reduced anytime water is reduced, and both should be increased in spring after new growth starts.
Growing media:
Plants are usually grown in well-drained pots or baskets tightly packed in a very open, fast draining medium such as coarse-sized fir bark or shredded tree-fern fiber or chunks of tree-fern fiber or osmunda. Hawkes (1965) reported, "The various bark preparations have not proved to be acceptable for use with Angraecums, or other angraecoid orchids." Hillerman and Holst (1986), however, stated, "Pot in coarse fir bark to avoid repotting too frequently." Materials such as perlite or chopped sphagnum moss that help hold the medium open and also retain some moisture are often added to the potting mix. In addition, charcoal is often added to help hold the medium open and keep it from becoming sour. When plants reach blooming size, the roots should be disturbed as infrequently as possible, as they may sulk for 2-4 years after being disturbed. Therefore, it is preferable to select a coarse potting medium that breaks down very slowly, which makes shredded tree-fern fiber preferable to fir bark. However, plants cannot tolerant stale conditions around the roots, so plants should be repotted immediately if the medium starts to break down. If the medium is still good, repotting may be done whenever the plant outgrows its container. Repotting is best done just as new roots start to grow, which allows the plant to become reestablished in the shortest possible time.
Miscellaneous notes:
The bloom season In the habitat, plants bloom from early winter into spring.
References:
This information is quoted from a Charles and Margaret Baker culture sheet, with permission from Troy Meyers
