Angraecum orchids - Species and Care

Angraecum, or sometimes called Comet Orchid (which reflects its flower structure) is amazing. This African genus of monopodial orchids contains both tiny orchids with lovely flowers such as Angraecum equitans, Angraecum magdalenae, Angraecum leonis, Angraecum elephantinum and magnificent giants such as so-called Darwin Orchid Angraecum sesquipedale. They are epiphytes and lithophytes and grow in tropical Africa and Madagascar. They are closely related to Vanda and resemble Vanda by their morphology, but prefer half-shade and better grow either mounted on slabs (miniature species) or potted into the bark mix (Angraecum sesquipedale, Angraecum eburneum).

They have prominent spurs – Angraecum sesquipedale, for instance, has extra-large spurs 7.9–15.7 inches long, that’s why Darwin got interested in this orchid species. He proposed, that there should be a pollinator with extra-large proboscis because such specific flowers with such extra-large spurs could not be pollinated by all insects – nectar is only at the end of this long spur, and common insects could not get it. And only years after the death of Darwin such pollinator was found – hawk moth Xanthopan morganii praedicta.

Angraecum species have flowers of different shades of white and green, they are usually nocturnal and smell at night, aroma of featured species (Angrm. sesquipedale) is a wonderful addition to the value of these orchids.

Angraecum orchid care

Angraecum orchid care is not very difficult – they prefer intermediate to warm and hot temperatures (which means that they are perfectly suited for indoor orchid cultivation), medium light (something intermediate between Phalaenopsis and Cambrias, they do not need extreme sunlight such as for Vanda or Cattleya), big species better grow potted in special bark mixture. Small and medium species grow better mounted to slabs, which mimics their natural growing conditions. For successful growing, you should water it after potting mixture became dry, and apply balanced fertilizers because big Angraecums are heavy feeders. They can flower all year round, but Angrm. sesquipedale and related species have a tendency to bloom in winter, and Angrm. magdalenae usually blooms in spring through summer.