About
An orchid of the Atlantic Forest from south-eastern Brazil to Misiones in Argentina, better known to many growers under its former names Sophronitis coccinea and Sophronitis grandiflora.
Care at a glance
- Pet safety
- Listed as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses. General guidance for the genus
- People
- Not recorded.
- Light
- Bright light such as an east- or west-facing window; direct sun burns the leaves. Mid-green leaves indicate good light, dark green too little. General guidance for the genus
- Water
- Keep the roots moist and never let them dry out, watering almost as often as a Phalaenopsis or Miltonia; unlike most cattleyas, when in doubt, water.
- Humidity
- High humidity, about 70–90%, with constant air movement; humidity is the decisive factor for flowering.
- Temperature
- Flowers well at up to about 30 °C (86 °F) provided humidity stays high.
- Soil
- Sphagnum moss has given better results than other media; plants also do well mounted on a tree branch.
- Propagation
- Divide when repotting, keeping at least three healthy pseudobulbs per division; also raised from seed or tissue culture. General guidance for the genus
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 10a–12b; grown indoors or under glass elsewhere. General guidance for the genus
“General guidance for the genus” marks advice sourced for the genus as a whole rather than this species.
Field notes
Distribution & habitat
Atlantic Forest habitats from southeastern Brazil to Misiones in Argentina.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
- Native to
- Brazil, Argentina
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- Not recorded
- Temperature
- Flowers well at up to about 30 °C (86 °F) provided humidity stays high.
- Humidity
- High humidity, about 70–90%, with constant air movement; humidity is the decisive factor for flowering.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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