Pholidota articulata

Also known as: The Articulated Pholidota or Pholidota khasyana Pholidota lugardii Pholidota articulata var. obovata Pholidota articulata var. griffithii Pholidota khasiyana Pholidota repens Pholidota obovata Pholidota minahassae Pholidota griffithii Pholidota decurva Coelogyne khasyana in the subfamily: Epidendroideae

General Information

The Articulated Pholidota is a medium sized sympodial warm to hot growing epiphytic orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae.

Plant Description

Sympodial. Grows to 25-51cm. Each new growth has numerous leathery leaves that grow to 8-13cm long. Pseudobulbs grow to 4-10cm

Flowers

Numerous fragrant blossoms appear

Fragrance

The orchid is fragrant.

Care Notes

These orchids have a fine root system that can quickly die back if left dry for too long, but also does not like to be kept wet, so water regularly but ensure that the mix is dry before watering. 

Fragrant:

• IsFragrant

Climate

Grows at low to high elevations. Rainfall ranges from 84mm to 602mm per day, heaviest in November and lightest in February. Humidity ranges from 71% to 83%, highest in November and lowest in June. Temperature ranges from 15C to 27C, highest in April (17C to 27C) and lowest in February (15C to 23C).

Fertiliser

These orchids do not need to be regularly fertilised and roots may be sensitive to salt build-up, dying back and therefore impairing the plants growth or even killing it.

If fertilising, use half to quarter of the recommended amount of fertiliser. If they receive fertiliser as part of a collection, be sure to flush out the pots regularly with fresh water and monitor the roots by checking how much resistance is given by the plant when nudged in its pot or mount. If the plant becomes wobbly or loose, repot in fresh mix or rinse the media/mount thoroughly and do not fertilise for at least 3 months.

Apply fertiliser regularly at half strength year round.

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,