About
A species orchid to 45cm tall with flattened pear-shaped pseudobulbs bearing lance-shaped leaves 20-35cm long and long-lasting, ribbon-like flowers with pale-green petals and dark-purple lips, flushed yellowish-green, with white bases deeply-veined purple to 8cm long, borne intermittently over a long period.
About the genus
Prosthechea are epiphytic orchids with narrowly elongated pseudobulbs with 1-5 narrow strap-shaped, leathery leaves. Fragrant flowers in winter are borne in racemes from tips of pseudobulbs
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeLoam
Soil pHNeutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectNorth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1B
Plant details
Plant typeHouseplants, Conservatory Greenhouse
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesSub-tropical
Native toS Florida, Caribbean, Mexico to N South America
Care notes
CultivationGrow in an open epiphytic compost with bright filtered light, and when in active growth during spring and summer, water sparingly but regularly and apply orchid fertiliser at every third or fourth watering; keep dry in winter
PruningNo pruning required; remove spent flowers as necessary
PropagationPropagate by division when plants overfill the container
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite and mealybugs
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free