Pleurothallis tribuloides

Also known as: The Thorny Pleurothallis in the subfamily: Epidendroideae

Native to: Belize Chiapas - Mexico Cuba Departamento de Granada - Nicaragua Guatemala Jamaica Oaxaca - Mexico Provincia de Puntarenas - Costa Rica Veracruz - Mexico

General Information

The Thorny Pleurothallis is a sympodial warm to hot growing epiphytic orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae native to Belize, Mexico, Cuba, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Jamaica, and Costa Rica. The name refers to the spiny seed pods.

Plant Description

Sympodial. Grows to 8cm. Each new growth has a single leathery thick, erect, lance shaped, oblong shaped leaf that grows to 1.5-7cm long. Pseudobulbs grow to 0.8cm

Flowers

Numerous long lasting blossoms appear

Substrate(s)

• Coarse
• Medium
• Bark
• Charcoal
• Spaghnum Moss
• Perlite

Care Notes

These orchids like to be watered regulary, especially during warm weather, and prefer a well draining mix or also do well mounted, provided they can be watered daily or even many times a day.

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 to high elevations. Rainfall ranges from 25mm to 188mm per day, heaviest in August and lightest in March. Temperature ranges from 13C to 25C, highest in May (17C to 25C) and lowest in January (13C to 19C).

Watering

These orchids prefer a wet-dry cycle between waterings, they should be watered frequently but only when the moisture is approaching dryness, where the pot feels light and/or the media looks dry. Keep an eye on mounted orchids in warm weather as they may dehydrate quickly.

Keep moisture levels up during hot weather as the plant is prone to dehydration

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,

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 or Fern slabs. Repotting is best done annually and in a pot the same size or only slightly larger than the previous one.