Barkeria

Barqueria is a special plant that perhaps not every gardener knows about. That is why in this article we will combine not only the descriptive characteristics of the crop, but also talk about the specifics of planting and caring for this plant. Barqueria takes root well on pine bark and, most likely, it is for this reason that it has some features that some other cultures do not have.

Barqueria: description of the orchid and cultivation

Barqueria: video about orchids

Barqueria is not just a plant, but a whole genus, which includes about 17 plant species. All species are native to Central and South America, so from here you can immediately understand the specifics of plants and their needs in climatic conditions. Most of the plants from the Barqueria species grow well and abundantly in Mexico, there are also several species that have successfully settled in Mexico, and two species have chosen the territories of Costa Rica and Panama. In general, the climatic conditions there are quite close - they are warm enough, and at the same time, the air humidity reaches optimal so that different types of Barkeria feel great.

For the first time, these plants were discovered in the 19th century, but at the same time they became independent plants much later and, accordingly, they were also described much later. At first, they were assigned to another family - the Epidendrum family, but then Barqueria became an independent species, which includes many other varieties. Barqueria as a whole are both epophytes and lithophytes. They have their own specific traits and characteristics. They settle mainly in trees in the tropics and tropical forests. As a rule, this culture grows in groups, but it is not uncommon to find single plantings, which also thrive in these circumstances.

Flowering at Barkeria is long, begins around the beginning of September, and stops with the onset of January. The colors of Barqueria can be varied: today there are white and pink, as well as purple inflorescences, which at the same time look quite interesting and unusual when compared with any other plants and their appearance during flowering.

The plant is quite demanding in terms of lighting, so it is better to take care in advance to correctly place the Barqueria on the site or in the room so that it receives enough heat and sunlight. Some gardeners also resort to installing artificial lighting, because the plant really needs it, given that the flowering period falls directly in the winter, when there is practically not enough lighting.

Plants are distinguished by the fact that they have rather long and very dense roots. Pseudobulbs also appear on the stems, which are very long elements in shape. New growths, as soon as they appear, are immediately covered with the finest scales. By themselves, the leaf blades of Barqueria have different shades of green, so they look very fresh, unusual and quite attractive. They can be oval, slightly elongated, the vein in the middle is very pronounced. When the vegetative period of Barkeria comes to an end, the plant simply sheds its leaves. Flowering usually occurs in the autumn, which, of course, is quite an atypical indicator, in principle, for any crops, so the Barkeria orchid in this case is unique.On one peduncle, from four to ten buds can form, the color of the corollas can be very diverse - pink or pale purple, and snow-white corollas are also often found. At the same time, spots or stripes can be seen on the lips of the sepals, which give the plant an even more decorative appearance.

Barqueria: photo of an orchid

Barqueria are orchids that can be either small, dwarf or medium in size, much in this case will depend on the type and variety of the plant. Height in rare cases reaches thirty centimeters. Growth usually increases when the plant begins to bloom gradually. For example, the length of the Barqueria cultivar Lindley can sometimes reach 80 centimeters, and this is really an incredibly outstanding indicator that in no case should be ignored. It is this species that gardeners most often grow in order to decorate their site, create both single and group outstanding plantings.

Today, breeding work does not stand still: specialists have bred several interspecific hybrids that combine a huge number of positive qualities and traits. In addition, Barqueria have already been crossed with another species plant - an epidendrum, and the results of crossing Barqueria with a lily, cattleya, brassavola have also appeared. As a result, we can observe incredibly attractive plants that have become a real decoration of many homesteads, landscapes and also a large number of flower beds. These are such plants as Barendrum, Brassokeria, Kattkeria and Leliokeria. From the name it is clear that it has absorbed the elements of the names of parental cultures.

If the gardener has decided that Barqueria will grow in a pot, then it is worth choosing the container in which there is already a sufficiently large number of drainage holes through which moisture will leave the pot. Charcoal should also be added to the purchased pieces of pine bark, sometimes gardeners add a substance such as polystyrene foam. The plant should be transplanted from one place to another, from one container to another container, only if the roots have grown so much that they become simply cramped in the old pot. Also, a transplant is prescribed if suddenly the substrate has become completely exhausted, and it must be renewed so that the plant receives again nutritious and useful mineral components. The barqueria transplant procedure is usually prescribed in the spring, when the plant fades.

Orchids feel very comfortable when planted in hanging baskets or kept in separate blocks. So they will demonstrate their excellent growth, and will also become a real decoration of any site. Such conditions are also closest to the natural environment and natural habitat of the plant, then the roots are constantly ventilated, while they do not end up in a continuous draft air stream, and therefore are located in relative safety for themselves. But, again, planting in certain conditions or pots, baskets - all this is done only depending on the interests and desires of the gardener himself, and also depending on what compositions he would like to create in order to get a decorative result, where is Barkeria will become the main character.

In a more home environment, Barqueria should usually be propagated by cuttings, since this method is considered the most reliable and safe, and the results are usually extremely positive. For grafting, the stem of the plant should be cut into several parts, no more than two internodes remain on each part, in some cases there may also be more of them, it all depends on the size of the parts obtained.The cut sites are immediately disinfected so that bacteria or fungal spores cannot penetrate into them, which will multiply very actively. The cuttings are then laid in a previously prepared and moistened substrate, which includes two components - sphagnum and sand. Then the cuttings are covered with plastic or polyethylene and left in this state for a while. Polyethylene or plastic should be removed periodically to ventilate the cuttings. After full and strong roots are formed, the plants can be pulled out of a kind of mini-greenhouse and placed in separate containers, where they continue to develop the root system. After that, the plant is already planted either in open ground, or in pots, flowerpots, baskets - in containers that the gardener can select independently, depending on his tastes and preferences, and also depending on the purpose for which he generally grows these plants.

Diseases and pests, the specificity of reproduction of Barkeria

Barqueria: photo of an orchid

The most important pests for Barkeria can be spider mites. You should also avoid any rot, as they can become the reason why the plant will stop growing, and in the future, it will die altogether. So in order to avoid this, it is very important to regularly inspect the plant, carry out some preventive treatments with folk and professional remedies and chemicals. In general, it depends on the attention from the gardener how Barkeria will grow, whether its immunity is strong enough, and stress resistance at a sufficiently high level. Barkeria reproduces in a vegetative way, and we have already mentioned about cuttings in the previous part of this article.

Barqueria is a culture that is incredibly fond of light and warmth. But at the same time, the gardener must also take into account the fact that if the plant is constantly exposed to direct sunlight, then very soon it will be damaged by burns. So it is best to send barqueria in the sun either in the morning or in the evening. At about noon, when the sun is at its peak, it is still recommended to shade the shrub, otherwise, due to carelessness, the plant will indeed receive numerous damages, and because of this, its decorative properties will simply be lost.

Starting from about spring and until the moment the barqueria begins to bloom, it is recommended to carry out regular and abundant watering. At the same time, the gardener should look after the plant, and also ensure that the water does not accumulate or stagnate in any case. If the orchid grows in blocks, then watering is best done in the morning. The feed must be at room temperature, and it is also recommended to insist it for some time, so that some trace elements and bacteria sink to the bottom and remain in the sediment, and the water itself is as clean, fresh and at the same time not a shock temperature. Every third watering is best combined with the process of feeding the plant, and for this it is better to take not all fertilizers in a row, but specialized mixtures, which are just intended to feed orchids with them. At the same time, the fertilizer should not be as concentrated as possible, you can make it a little weaker at this frequency, it will still be very effective for the plant, and will not lose its features and properties at all. Plants also really need fresh air constantly, but sharp gusts and drafts should be avoided. So, for example, in the summer it is best to replace airing with some alternatives: as an option, move pots, baskets or any other containers where plants are planted to balconies or to the territory of gardens and personal plots.But it is also worth remembering that in bad weather this cannot be done at all, since such weather conditions can only harm the plants, and no support.

Immediately after the flowering of Barqueria is over, the peduncles are best removed from the shrub. The leaves can dry out, and then the plant generally discards them entirely, which indicates that Barqueria is preparing to enter the stage of rest and rest. For the dormant period, it is best not to apply any fertilizers, and also not to water the plant, since it usually does not give any growth at this time, although the root system must be protected, although it is in a dormant mode. Sometimes you can spray the roots, but it also depends on the conditions in which the orchid grows at home, sometimes you can leave the flower alone and wait for it to wake up with the onset of a new vegetative period.

Orchid Barkeria: photo

If, during a period of very active growth and development, Barkeria's leaves begin to turn yellow, then there is a possibility that the plant has received a sunburn, and this problem should be urgently addressed. Most often, it is enough to transfer the plant to a shaded place, in which it will restore its strength and the possibility of further growth and development. During the dormant period, the orchid, which we are talking about, can lose not only the leafy part, but also can lose some part of the root system. In general, at the same time, another indicator is the active drying out of pseudobulbs. Experienced gardeners call these processes natural, so you don't have to worry about the state of the plant, it absolutely corresponds to the norm, and does not mean that the plant is sick.

Barkeria orchid buds can also shed. This reaction becomes natural if the air temperature is much higher than normal. Drafts, which Barkeria does not tolerate very well, can lead to the same result. Leaves can also be extended, but the flowering will be very poor. Such a reaction of the plant just suggests that the gardener thoughtlessly and not in accordance with the schedule applied fertilizers, and for this reason we can say that their overabundance led precisely to such sad and negative consequences. Therefore, of course, the norms and rules should be observed in everything - in watering the plant, in its transplants, as well as in feeding. Only in this case, when all agrotechnical actions are balanced, it will be possible to count on getting a really excellent, unique and very exotic result - the flowering of Barkeria at home. Also, a lot depends on how seriously the gardener took the choice of a place for planting the Barkeria orchid, as well as a selection of all the measures for caring for this plant.