Aerides thibautiana
Also known as: Thibaut's Aerides in the subfamily: Epidendroideae
General Information
Thibaut's Aerides is a monopodial warm to hot growing orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae. It is named after the French orchid enthusiast in the 19th century.
Plant Description
Monopodial. Grows to 50cm. Each new growth has numerous arching leaves that grow to 3.3-21cm long
Substrate(s)
- Coarse
- Medium
- Bark
- Charcoal
- Perlite
Climate
The orchids are well adapted for hot weather, accompanied by sporadic, unpredictable rainfall and a generally dry climate. They can tolerate a lot of neglect as they are quite used to it, however they can be prone to underwatering and may collapse in cold, wet weather.
For this reason it's best to dedicate a sheltered, protected area for them where the watering can be controlled, such as a corner of a greenhouse or in a sheltered balcony. They can also do well hung near the roof of a shadehouse or sheltered greenhouse where they receive the extra heat but not as much water as other plants.
Grows at low elevations. Rainfall ranges from 86mm to 472mm per day, heaviest in January and lightest in September. Humidity ranges from 72% to 84%, highest in January and lowest in August. Temperature ranges from 19C to 29C, highest in August (21C to 29C) and lowest in October (19C to 27C).Watering
These orchids prefer a constant supply of moisture, with a slight drying out between waterings. Saucers can be placed under pots to retain moisture during hot weather, however the saucers should be removed or let to dry every 1-2 weeks to prevent rot. Keep an eye on the plant especially in hot weather and look for cues of under/overwatering and adjust accordingly.
Fertiliser
Apply liquid based fertiliser per recommended directions. They can benefit from a high phosphate fertiliser leading up to flowering season, followed by a high nitrogen fertiliser when new growth appears, and a balanced fertiliser in other times. These orchids can also tolerate slow release fertiliser applied 1-2 pellets per cup (250ml) of media.
Apply fertiliser regularly at half strength year round. Use a high Nitrogen fertiliser during Spring and Summer. Use a high Phosphorous fertiliser during Summer.Potting
Use water retentive media such as moss to prevent roots from drying out quickly This plant does very well in baskets or suspended pots This plant does well mounted to Tree trunks, Fern slabs or Cork slabs. Repotting is best done annually.
