Bifrenaria

Bifrenaria is the name of the orchid genus, which unites about 25 species. In natural conditions, they are found in South America, Panama and the island of Trinidad. When classifying orchids, experts do not always immediately attribute them to the desired genus, sometimes confusion arises. So in the case of Bifenaria - at first they were attributed to Dendrobium, after a while scientists changed their mind and decided that they belong to Maxillaria, and only then they isolated these plants into a separate genus - Bifrenaria

Bifrenaria: plant description

Bifrenaria: photo of an orchid

The indoor bifrenaria orchid is not very large, as a rule, its size does not exceed 50 cm, although in nature the plant can grow up to one meter. Outwardly, the flower looks like pseudobulbs with four faces, located as close to each other as possible. A large erect leaf grows from each bulb.
Bifrenaria produces a peduncle in the spring, regardless of whether it is long or short, no more than two flowers bloom on it. All parts of the flower are covered with fluff, the lateral sepals grow together, they are noticeably larger than the petals. The color palette of colors is usually kept in white-cream or brown shades. The buds do not bloom at the same time, but in turn, the flowering of each flower lasts about two weeks. The smell of bifrenaria during the flowering period is quite strong, reminiscent of the aroma of caramel.

Bifrenaria: orchid care

Bifrenaria: photo of an orchid

So, let's clarify what exactly bifrenaria orchids need to feel comfortable:

• loose substrate that will freely pass water and air.
• a lot of light, ideally an east, south or west window.
• sufficient watering every three to four days and high humidity.
• air temperature in the room from + 20 to +28 degrees.
• feeding as needed.

Against the background of most exotic plants, the bifrenaria orchid is considered unpretentious. After you bring the plant home from the store, you need to give it a few days for acclimatization and quarantine. Transportation, changing environmental conditions are stressful for any plant. And quarantine is needed in order to make sure that there are no harmful insects that could arrive to you along with bifrenaria from a flower shop (aphids and scale insects should be feared). Repotting should only be done if the substrate does not meet the requirements at all and the plant is withering away. Also, during the acclimatization period, bifrenaria should be protected from direct sunlight. And in the subsequent time it is better to place it so that there is a lot of light, but it was diffused and the leaves did not get burned. During the period when the orchid is blooming, it is better to place it in partial shade.

In the warm season, it is necessary to maintain a temperature of about +25 degrees in the daytime and about + 18 ... + 20 degrees at night, but in winter, when bifrenaria is at rest, it needs a "cooling" to + 13 ... + 15 degrees.

When watering a bifrenaria orchid, it is important to maintain a balance, not allowing the roots to dry out completely, but at the same time not creating an excessively humid environment. Do not use cold tap water for irrigation, it is advisable to pre-boil it and cool it to room temperature. When the orchid goes into a dormant state, then both the volume and the number of watering must be reduced.

As we said above, in addition to temperature, air humidity is also important. Usually, in such cases, it is recommended to spray the plants, but in the case of orchids, this can create additional problems - it is undesirable for the water to get on the flowers or leaves.Therefore, place the bifrenaria next to a humidifier, aquarium, or decorative indoor fountain. As a last resort, you can simply put a container of water next to it, which, gradually evaporating, will maintain the air humidity at the desired level. While maintaining the required temperature and humidity, it is important not to forget to regularly ventilate the room, while protecting all plants from drafts.

In winter, most plants are dormant, but in spring they wake up and begin to grow. At this time, they need additional strength, so starting from April they can carry out top dressing (two or three per season will be enough), using complex fertilizers for orchids, such as Flower Paradise, Compo, Zdraven and others.

Bifrenaria is capricious about transplants, so the procedure should be carried out only when absolutely necessary. Prepare the pots and special soil in advance, during the transplanting process, you can divide the plant, while each specimen should have at least three pseudobulbs. After transplanting, watering should be limited for a while - humidify the air, spray the soil from a spray bottle, but do not water it.

Potential growing problems

Bifrenaria: photo of an orchid

If we talk about harmful insects, then orchids are rarely attacked by them. But if you still find the first signs of aphids, then it is enough to cope with it simply using a soap solution.

Orchids such as bifrenaria acquire for the sake of stunningly beautiful flowers, so the lack of flowering cannot but upset the grower. This is most likely due to the fact that the plant did not have a noticeable temperature difference during the growing season and at rest. Also, the lack of flowering can be associated with stress due to a change of location or transplant. Continue to take care of bifrenaria, and after a while it will definitely delight you with flowering.

If the bifrenaria orchid has released a peduncle, but then the buds have fallen off without blooming, then most likely the problem is in drafts. Perhaps the plant should be rearranged to a different location. The same must be done if the color of the leaves changes - this happens when there is an excessive amount of direct sunlight.
Another problem of bifrenaria can be root decay, and then pseudobulb. This happens if you do not follow the rules for watering: use cold tap water, water too much or too often, allow moisture to stagnate. If you do everything correctly, then such a problem (which can lead to the death of the plant) will not arise.

Any houseplant requires care, be it a tenacious agave or an exotic bifrenaria. By following the rules of care and providing the plant with comfort, you can enjoy the bloom of the bifrenaria orchid and the delicious candy scent of flowers.

Bifrenaria orchid: video