General characteristics of the orchid, recommendations for growing zygopetalum at home, breeding rules, overcoming difficulties, interesting facts, species. Zygopetalum (Zygopetalum) is a member of the large and very ancient Orchid family (Orchidaceae), or as it is also called Orchids. A large number of monocotyledonous plants, in which there is only one cotyledon in the embryo, is assigned there. These representatives of the planet's flora appeared in the Late Cretaceous epoch (about 66 million years ago). Zygopetalums are most common in Central and South America (in particular, in Brazilian lands). There they mainly grow in the form of epiphytes (when the flower chooses the surface of large branches or tree trunks for its growth), but sometimes, depending on conditions, they can settle on rocks (become lithophytes) or grow on the soil surface.
Among flower growers, because of its color of petals, this orchid is called "blue angel". It also pleases the owners with an abundance of color shades and a wonderful rich aroma of flowers, which is especially audible in the morning.
The type of growth in this orchid is sympodial, when in such plants a bush is formed from a system of shoots. These horizontal shoots form a rhizome, and the vertical ones form pseudobulbs. Development in such orchids comes from the apical bud. Also, zygopetalum is included in the group of maxillaria - which are most suitable for indoor growing and for them it is necessary to withstand certain conditions for growing. This group includes up to 20 varieties of orchids. Their peculiarity is the presence of pseudobulbs and a pair of leaf plates. The pseudobalbus has a green color and a smooth surface. They themselves are rather short, with a slight flattening, oval or elliptical in shape. Pseudobulbs can be seen in a leaf formation that resembles a nest in outline. It was formed by wide and flat petioles of the lower leaf plates, which die off over time.
The leaves are mostly petiolate, and their formation occurs at the top of the pseudobulb. The surface of the leaf is leathery, glossy and has a longitudinal well-pronounced venation. The leaves of such plants are narrow, broadly lanceolate, and can be up to half a meter in length. The color of the leaves of the zygopetalum is saturated dark green. When a young pseudobulb matures well, an elongated flowering stem appears from its sinus, which begins to grow almost simultaneously with it.
The flowering process occurs in the winter, and stretches over almost a month. The flowers that crown the peduncle are very spectacular. Their diameter often reaches 6–10 cm. On one such flowering stem, up to 12 buds can form, which are collected in racemose inflorescences. The flower is zygomorphic in shape - a single axis of symmetry can be drawn through it. Basically, at the side and upper petals (sepals and petals), the background color is greenish and a pattern of brown-burgundy spots, with uneven outlines, is launched over it. The shape of a pair of lower sepals is obovate or oval with a sharp point at the apex; they are, as a rule, wider than the upper sepal, which is located just on the axis of symmetry. The petals are even more tapering.
The lip (lower petal) takes on a whitish hue, but it is completely dotted with stripes and strokes running along the petal plate. These stripes have a purple or burgundy color scheme and have blurred outlines. Its shape resembles an open fan, which has a wide base and a horseshoe-shaped protrusion.
Agrotechnics when growing zygopetalum, care
- Lighting and location selection. Most of all, a place with diffused light and even partial shade is suitable for this orchid. But with the arrival of the autumn-winter period, it will be necessary to carry out illumination using phytolamps. The pot with zygopetalum is placed on the window sills of the eastern and western locations. In the northern room, you will have to carry out constant lighting, and on the sill of the southern window you need to take care of shading.
- Content temperature in the spring-summer period should fluctuate within 20-23 degrees in the daytime, and by night they are reduced to 15-18 units. This regime must be maintained throughout the year.
- Humidity when growing zygopetalum, a high is required - up to 80%. Therefore, they increase it in all possible ways, carrying out daily spraying, placing humidifiers or vessels with water nearby. Some growers keep the orchid in deep trays filled with moistened expanded clay or moss.
- Watering. This flower requires that the substrate is always slightly moist. Water the plant in the same way as any orchid - immersing a pot of zygopetalum in a basin of water. This is kept for 15–20 minutes, then the pot is pulled out and the moisture is allowed to drain well. In winter, the frequency of humidification is reduced and is guided only by the state of the "soil" in the pot. In this case, the liquid should be warm and well-settled, it is recommended to take distilled, river or rainwater.
- Fertilizers for zygopetalum, they are introduced from the beginning of spring activity until the autumn months. Liquid universal preparations for orchids are used every 14 days, but the dosage is recommended to be reduced by two to four times.
- Transfer and selection of soil. It is required to change the pot and the soil in it for zygopetalum every two years, timing this time for the spring months. They also change the pot if new shoots hang from the flowerpot and threaten to turn it over. The new container should be 1–2 cm larger than the previous one, so that the root system is not cramped and there is also room for a new substrate. The pot is taken plastic and transparent, since the root processes need some lighting and it is better when the surface of the flowerpot is slippery, since the roots can adhere during development to all protrusions and even grow a little into the pot. If the container is earthenware or ceramic, then during the subsequent transplantation, it is very difficult to separate the roots from its walls.
It is better to transplant the orchid using the transshipment method so as not to disturb the root system once again. If there are old and dried roots or pseudobulbs, then they are removed, and the sections are sprinkled with crushed activated or charcoal. When pseudobulbs are green in color, but they are wrinkled and unattractive, then they should not be removed, since they still have some supply of nutrients that will contribute to the development of the orchid. So that the flower is not subjected to severe stress, it is recommended to only slightly clean the roots of the old substrate.
For transplanting, ready-made commercial earth mixtures for orchids are used, but you can also compose such a soil yourself. It should be light and hygroscopic, it can be a mixture of pieces of small and medium-sized pine bark, peat soil, medium-fraction expanded clay and chopped sphagnum moss. Sometimes coconut fiber is added there.
The plant can grow well in blocks, for the cultivation of zygopetalum, sometimes large bushes of pine bark are used, to which the roots of this large orchid are carefully attached with the help of a fishing line. Then they are wrapped in a small layer of sphagnum moss or coconut fiber.
Breeding rules for zygopetalum at home
Usually, the reproduction process of this orchid is combined with its transplant, dividing the formed rhizome (root system).
The plant is removed from the pot and divided into two parts, so that each has at least 3 pseudobulbs. After dividing, parts of the zygopetalum are planted in containers prepared in advance with a substrate suitable for further growth. The size of the new pot should be 1/3 wider than the entire root system of the "delenka". Before planting part of the orchid, it is recommended to dry it so that the slices live a little. Also, for the prevention of decay, the sections can be treated with crushed activated or charcoal.
When zygopetalum is propagated under industrial conditions, cloning is used, which is called meristimic. You can also propagate using cuttings. To do this, use faded flowering stems or parts of pseudobulbs. The latter are cut with a well-disinfected tool, then it is recommended to sprinkle the cuts with charcoal and plant them in a pot filled with a moistened substrate. After breeding, it is not required to fertilize or water the zygopetalum, but it is recommended to carry out daily spraying.
Pests and diseases that annoy the orchid
Sadly, this orchid most often suffers from diseases and damage from harmful insects. Of these, spider mites and scale insects are isolated, which attack the zygopetalum at low humidity. You can wash off the first one under streams of a warm shower, while the water temperature is maintained at about 45 degrees. At the same time, the substrate in the pot is covered with plastic wrap. This action must be repeated several times to obtain a positive result. But if it is not possible to cope with simple methods, then they are treated with insecticidal preparations.
If the level of humidity, both of the air and of the substrate, is violated, then this inevitably entails the appearance of spots and rot on the spots. Various fungal and bacterial diseases are also possible. In the case when black or brown stripes appear on the flower petals, this becomes evidence of a fungal disease - gray rot. To combat it, the plant is treated with a fungicide. If black rot appears, then in these cases it is not possible to save the flower. For brown rot, copper sulfate is used.
If the orchid is in direct sunlight for a long time, then its leaves can get sunburn, the zygopetalum overheats and begins to bloom too early. If the summer temperature is high, then it is important not to forget to moisten the substrate in the pot, otherwise problems with the root system may begin and the state of the leaves will deteriorate. Since an increase in temperature will entail an acceleration of all internal processes in an orchid, it is important to water the flower well, otherwise it will begin to replenish the loss of liquid from its leaf plates.
If the plant is taken out into the open air in the spring-summer period, then it is worth taking care of protection from slugs and snails.
Interesting facts about zygopetalum
Zygopetalum got its specific name because of the structure of the flower, since the name Zygopetalum combines the Greek words: "zygon", which means "to pair", as well as "yoke" and "petalon", translated as "petal".
Types of zygopetalium
- Zygopetalum intermediate (Zygopetalum intermedium) grows in natural conditions on the territory of Brazil, their pollination is carried out by small tropical birds - hummingbirds. The pseudobulb shape is thickened, oval or rounded. The color of the foliage is dark green, the contours of the leaf plate are elongated, linear-lanceolate. The flowering stem grows vertically upward or with a slight deviation. The length of the inflorescence crowning it can reach 60 cm. On the peduncle, 5-7 buds are usually formed. The color of the petals in them is greenish-yellow. The entire surface of the petals is covered with a pattern of brown spots, which is what the variety is characterized by. The lip is white and has purple stripes along it. If you come closer, you can clearly hear a rich aroma similar to the smell of lilacs that flowers exude.
- Zygopetalum mackayi (Zygopetalum mackayi). Has a strong flower scent. When unfolded, they reach 8 cm in diameter. The flowering process occurs during the autumn-winter months. The petals of flowers are painted in a greenish-yellow color with a mottling of a red-brown tone. The edge of the lip is wavy, it has a snow-white color with a pattern formed by violet-purple stripes. Hybrid forms of this variety, sold in flower shops, are characterized by increased resistance to adverse conditions, and it is preferable to start them for beginners in orchid cultivation.
- Spotted zygopetalum (Zygopetalum maculatum) has an elongated flowering stem that can extend to a height of 40 cm, and its top is crowned with an inflorescence consisting of 8–12 buds. The diameter of the flowers when opening can vary within 4–5 cm. Sepals and petals in this variety are distinguished by elongated obovate outlines and at the end there is a cleavage. Their surface casts a greenish color scheme and is covered with shapeless burgundy spots. The lip is snow-white, all speckled with intermittent purple stripes running along.
- Zygopetalum pedicellatum very similar to the previous view, but the size of the lip is narrower. In the widest part, its color is snow-white, and on the tapering area there is a pattern of purple specks. The general background of petals and sepals is pale green, and on it there is a spotting of an indefinite form of a reddish-burgundy tone.
- Zygopetalum maxillare (Zygopetalum maxillare) has a flowering stem reaching a height of 35 cm. It forms from 5 to 8 buds, the diameter of which is 6 cm. The two sepals located below are almost completely painted in a burgundy brown tone, and only at the edge and top is the original greenish background visible. The third sepal and petals are covered with the same color from the very base to the middle. More and more to the tops they show a greenish color, and the brown-burgundy one begins to turn into an uneven spotting. On the lip, the color smoothly flows from dark purple at the base to pale lilac at the top.
- Zygopetalum triste (Zygopetalum triste). The flower-bearing stem of this variety is close to 25 cm in height and is crowned with flowers, which, when opened, measure 5–6 cm in diameter. The petals have narrow outlines, they are almost belt-shaped with some pointed at the top. The color is uniform, burgundy-brown, only at the base can be seen spots of a greenish tone. The lip has a delicate whitish tint, along the surface there are blurry pale purple stripes (veins), which practically merge into one tone at the base.
- Zygopetalum pabstii differs in the largest flower sizes. The flower-bearing stem can grow up to 90 cm in height, and the diameter of the flowers when opened is equal to 10 cm. The color of the sepals and petals is the same as that of many representatives of this genus - they are shaded with a greenish background, on which there are multiple irregular maroon specks. The lip has a whitish background, which is almost completely hidden under countless violet or violet-blue stripes and veins, the outlines of which are very blurred.
- Zygopetalum microphytum (Zygopetalum microphytum). The plant has the smallest size - only 15–25 cm in height. Flowers can open up to 2.5 cm in diameter. The color of the sepals and petals is greenish with maroon spots. The lip casts a whitish color, but only at the very base it is decorated with dark purple strokes.
How to care for zygopetalum, see the following video:
