Caularthron bilamellatum

Also known as: Little Virgin Orchid or Diacrium bigibberosum Diacrium bivalvatulum Diacrium venezuelanum Caularthron bilamellatum f. indivisum Epidendrum bigibberosum Caularthron bivalvatulum Caularthron indivisum Diacrium bilamellatum var. reichenbachianum Epidendrum indivisum Diacrium bicornutum var. indivisum Virgin Orchid in the subfamily: Epidendroideae

Native to: Belize Costa Rica Departamento del Huila - Colombia Ecuador Guatemala Nicaragua Panama

General Information

Little Virgin Orchid is a small sympodial hot growing epiphytic orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae native to Belize, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama.

Plant Description

Sympodial. Grows to 60cm. Each new growth has numerous leathery thick, erect, arching leaves that grow to 2.5-20cm long. Pseudobulbs grow to 3-23cm

Substrate(s)

• Coarse
• Bark

Care Notes

These orchids like to be kept on the dry side, but may need to be watered daily during warm weather, and prefer a well draining mix or also do well mounted, provided they can be watered regularly.

These are quite a forgiving orchid, there are no special requirements to get this orchid to flower, just good care and consistent conditions. Larger plants may be more fussy and can react poorly to change; a poorly timed repotting, a pest infection or an unusually hot day can set them back for a couple of years. However, even plants that have been treated poorly can thrive, and if they are set back they often recover much stronger then they would otherwise be.

Climate

Grows at low elevations. Rainfall ranges from 10mm to 109mm per day, heaviest in July and lightest in March. Humidity ranges from 76% to 79%, highest in November and lowest in March. Temperature ranges from 22C to 32C, highest in September (25C to 32C) and lowest in January (22C to 29C).

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

These plants are quite forgiving and will do well repotted ever 2-3 years. The mix should be coarse, well draining, and allow space for air to move and for roots to grow. 

Alternatively, these plants will also do well mounted to tree fern or cork slabs, or mounted to trees.

Best time for repotting or mounting the orchids is the end of winter when new growths start to appear. Avoid repotting during hot weather,

This plant does very well in baskets or suspended pots