Galeander

Galeander description

Galeandra (Galeandra) is a herbaceous perennial belonging to the Orchid family. His homeland is South America - in the wild, these orchids grow in Mexico, Panama, Brazil.

This genus of orchids includes about three dozen plant species, among which there are both terrestrial varieties and epiphytic plants that live on other plants. The average height of the galeander is about 1 m. The foliage is present on these plants only at the beginning of the growing season and begins to fall off as the buds mature. A two-row arrangement of bright green leaf plates with a pointed shape and a folded leathery surface is characteristic. The height of the peduncle, as a rule, is 0.7 m - at its top, a panicle-shaped inflorescence is formed, consisting of large showy flowers. Their number can range from 1 to two dozen. The flowers are characterized by a tubular shape, the diameter of the "funnel" is about 5 cm. The edges of the petals are sometimes slightly pubescent. The color gamut of colors of the galeander is quite diverse and includes shades from white, pale green and pale pink to bright yellow and deep purple. The flowering period occurs in the summer and often lasts more than a month. The galeander is characterized by the formation of large pseudobulbs, the length of which can reach 40 cm. As a rule, they have an ovoid or fusiform shape.

In a cut form and subject to regular replacement of water in a vase, galeander flowers can be stored for up to 30 days, which allows them to be used for making bouquets, flower arrangements, and for decorating premises.

Galeander care

Despite its southern origin and exotic appearance, the galleander does not require much care. In order to grow this spectacular orchid at home, it is enough to follow the simple recommendations, which will be discussed below.

Temperature regime

Although the natural habitat of the galeander is the tropical forests of South America, in indoor growing conditions, this plant does not need to maintain a high air temperature. It is enough that the thermometer shows no more than 15 and no more than 20 degrees Celsius for the galleander to feel comfortable.

Lighting mode

As for lighting, it is better to protect the delicate petals of a galeander from exposure to direct sunlight, since diffused light dominates in tropical forests. For this reason, during the summer, you should take care of shading for this orchid.

Soil composition

The containers in which the galeander is grown can be filled with ready-made orchid substrate available from your gardening store. It is important that the soil in pots or containers is loose, air and moisture permeable. You can prepare the soil mixture yourself: it must necessarily include sphagnum moss, as well as thin shavings of tree bark. Do not forget about the drainage layer at the bottom of the container to protect the root system of the galleander from moisture stagnation and decay.

Fertilization

Throughout the growing season, the galeander should be fed every 14 days. To do this, you can use ready-made mixtures designed for fertilizing orchids. In the autumn-winter period, when the plant is at rest, top dressing is contraindicated.

Humidity

Since the galeander is home to tropical rainforests, it needs a fairly high degree of humidification in the room.In this case, you should take care of full air circulation and carry out regular ventilation, while avoiding drafts, which are detrimental to a tropical orchid. The use of room humidifiers is recommended. You can also place a pot of galleander on a pallet filled with wet pebbles.

Watering mode

In the spring-summer period, the galeander should be watered quite often - at least once every 2 days. With the arrival of the cold season, the frequency of watering should be reduced. In the winter months, the plant practically does not need moisture - the galeander is characterized by high resistance to drought. This period is characterized by shrinking of pseudobulbs, which are a reservoir for liquid.

Transplant and reproduction

Transplant recommendations

Transplanting a galeander should be resorted to as it grows and develops - young plants periodically need to be moved to larger pots. In adulthood, the frequency of galeander transplants is no more than 1 procedure in 2 years in order to replace the soil mixture with a fresh one. During transplantation, you should very carefully remove the plant from the container so as not to damage its root system.

Reproduction methods

There are several ways of breeding galleander. The most laborious is the seed method, which includes several stages. To begin with, in the spring, you should sow galeander seeds in a nutritious substrate, which should be loose and thoroughly moistened. For seedlings, it is necessary to create greenhouse conditions: containers with seedlings should be covered with a glass cover and a constant temperature of at least +25 degrees and high humidity should be maintained under it. Only fully formed sprouts can be transplanted into open pots.

Another method of breeding galeander involves grafting. Cuttings should be cut in the summer, before planting in the ground, they must be kept in water for 2 days, into which a solution that stimulates root growth can be added.

Also, the galeander reproduces by children, which are formed on the parent plant, provided that the required temperature and air humidity level are maintained. Children are completely independent, albeit miniature, plants with an independent root system and leaves. The survival rate of children when separated from the mother bush of the galeander is about 100%, therefore this method of reproduction is very popular among gardeners.