Angraecum sesquipedale is also called Darwin's orchid,
Christmas orchid,
Star of Bethlehem orchid,
King of the Angraecums,
The One and a Half Foot Long Angraecum,
Comet Orchid
Synonyms:
Aeranthes sesquipedalis
Angorchis sesquipedale
Angraecum bosseri
Angraecum sesquipedale var. angustifolium
Macroplectrum sesquipedale
Mystacidium sesquipedale
It is a species of the genus Angraecum. This species was described by Louis-Marie Aubert du Petit-Thouars in 1822.
Angraecum sesquipedale is native to Madagascar. This orchid is found in the hot lowlands around almost the entire east coast of the island of Madagascar, starting from Talanaro (Fort Dauphin) in the south to Antalaha in the north. There are reports of its occurrence on the island of Sainte-Marie lying on the side of the north-central part of the east coast. They grow on branches of trees in light shade or in diffuse light on the edge of forests, usually below 100 m. They are found in places where there is a lot of air movement, mostly on sloping branches of trees and in their forks, with roots clinging to bark and hanging in the air sometimes over one meter long. They grow in the coastal area with abundant annual rainfall throughout the year, without a clear dry season.
The Angraecum sesquipedale is a large sized, hot growing species, which reaching 90-120 cm in height, It blooms in winter with 1 to 6 fragrant flowers, usually 17-22 cm in diameter, sometimes they reach even 46 cm from the end of the dorsal leaf to the end of the spur. Usually they produce only one flower, but on larger plants grow several flowers consecutively. There are reports of well-cultivated plants with several inflorescences with even 18 large flowers. The flowers are greenish after opening, but within 2-3 days they change color to pure white.
Light:
Angraecum sesquipedale needs a light level of 25000-35000 lux. These plants need the maximum possible dose of scattered light, just to not burn the leaves, especially at the end of summer and autumn. Direct southern sun may cause burns. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time.
Temperature:
It is a thermophilic plant. In summer the average day temperature is 29°C, night 21-22°C, which gives a daily difference of 7°C. The average temperature of the winter day is 23-24°C, the night 16-17°C, with a daily amplitude of 7°C.
Humidity:
The Angraecum sesquipedale needs the humidity of about 80% throughout the year.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Angraecum sesquipedale are usually grown in pots or baskets filled with a tightly permeable substrate, such as thick fir bark or pieces of tree fern fiber or Osmund ferns. Also, the materials that release the substrate but often retain a portion of the moisture, e.g. perlite and cut sphagnum moss, are often added to the mixture. Wood charcoal is also often added to ensure the air permeability of the substrate and protection against acidification.
When the plants reach a size suitable for flowering, as little as possible to violate their root system, because they can go back 2-4 years in development. Therefore, it is better to choose a thick substrate which decomposes very slowly, which means that cut fibers of tree ferns will be better than fir bark. However, since these plants do not tolerate separate soil around the roots, they should be repotted immediately when the substrate begins to decompose. If the substrate is in good condition, it can be repotted when the plant grows out of the container. If repotting is done at the time when new roots begin to appear, the plant will be accepted and rooted in the shortest possible time.
Watering:
These plants should be watered abundantly during periods of intensive growth, but excellent drainage should be ensured so that the ground around the roots is never spread or soggy. At the beginning of winter, watering should be somewhat limited.
Fertilizer:
During the active growth, the plant should be fertilized every week 1/2-3/4 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids. The amount of flowers depends on the amount of leaves that will grow in the previous season. You can use sustainable fertilizer throughout the year, and can also use high-nitrogen fertilizer from spring to mid-summer. The use of high-phosphorus fertilizer may be beneficial in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
Angraecum sesquipedale in winter need less water, but they should not dry up completely, nor be dry for a longer period. When reducing the amount of water, reduce fertilization at the same time. In spring, when the growth of young growth begins, watering and fertilization increase.