We commonly get questions about the orchid Aerides houlletiana. There are so many people who want to grow this at home but don’t know where to begin.
What Is the Aerides Houlletiana Orchid?
The orchid Aerides Houlletiana is native to the evergreen dry lowlands of Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, where it can be found growing at an altitude of 800 yards above sea level in some partial shade.
The stem has a single nature and is lengthy and unbranched. Slender, leathery leaves are 6 to 8 inches in length and 2 inches in width. The scape, which bears several fragrant flowers, emerges from the leaf axils.
This plant normally blooms in May to June, producing thick, waxy flowers that range in size from 1.5 inches to 2 inches. The flowers have rich racemes with many blossoms and are creamy white, yellow, and magenta in color. There is a beautiful citrus and spice scent.
The blooms persist for 1.5 to 2 months. Because the flowers are three-dimensional, complex, and golden with reddish-purple coloring, it is difficult to distinguish between individual flowers. They are also some of its most notable characteristics.
Flowers
Aerides houlletiana, a species of orchid.
Aerides houlletiana’s blossoms develop in a profusion of flowers called an inflorescence. Each blossom has a diameter of 1.5 to 2 inches.
To the touch, the thick, waxy petals and sepals feel.
Each blossom has an eye-catching fuschia lip in the center and is a sumptuous pale gold color. Petal and sepal surfaces are likewise covered in Fuschia dots.
Several species have floriferous sprays of creamy yellow flowers with bright pink lips that bloom in profusion.
The scent of houlletiana flowers is one of their most outstanding features. These orchids, often known as citrus and spice orchids, will give out a pleasant lemon scent that will fill your house.
Pseudobulbs and Stem
Pseudobulb, a swollen storage organ, gives rise to a single stem.
The stem is tall, unbranched, and thin.
Leaves
Long and tapering, Aerides houlletiana’s leaves are evergreen.
The leaves have a leathery texture to them, just like the blossoms do.
Each leaf is between 6 and 8 inches long and around 2 inches broad.
Growth Pattern
Aerides houlletiana displays a special growth pattern known as vandaceous growth habit. It develops large lead masses on top of the pseudobulbs and extremely long aerial roots.
Aerides Houlletiana Care
Light
Aerides houlletiana has relatively simple lighting requirements. You only need to worry about the following:
Place these orchids in indirect or shadowed light. They do well in rooms with lots of light.
Severe sunburn will result from exposure to strong, bright sunshine.
We advise placing them close to an eastern-facing window in the summer and a southern-facing window in the winter in the northern hemisphere. Always cover the windows with drapes or another covering.
Place them beneath the shade of a larger tree or plant if you wish to grow them outside in a garden or nursery.
Under artificial light, it may also reasonably well grow and bloom. Watch them flourish if you place them in a basement under powerful sodium or fluorescent fixture lights!
Too much sunshine will result in yellow-green foliage. You must relocate them so they can be in a shaded area.
On the other side, these orchids won’t flower if there is insufficient light.
Water
Beginners frequently complain about how difficult the orchid watering routine is. To find out how to properly water your houlletiana, continue reading.
- If at all feasible, water your plants using rainfall, distilled water, or reverse osmosis filtered water.
- Water Aerides houlletiana in a balanced manner. Not too much nor not enough.
- Before watering the plants the following time, let the potting mixture dry on the surface but not completely.
- Avoid overwatering at all costs. Refrain from adding water if the potting medium is still damp or moist.
- Aerides houlletiana develops bacterial and fungal diseases in the roots and stems when it is overwatered and kept wet all the time. These infections frequently result in the death of the entire plant after that.
- Put a pencil in the potting mixture of an orchid in a pot and observe whether it comes out dry or wet to determine the condition of the potting mixture.
- Since they lack a potting mixture to hold moisture for a long time, non-potted houlletiana require daily watering.
The Temperature
All year long, medium to high temperatures are necessary for this orchid. Maintain them in an area where the temperature is consistently above 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
Soil
For all gardeners, deciding how to cultivate orchids at home is a difficult decision. We have gotten advice on the best growing material for Aerides houlletiana from orchid gardeners all over the world.
Many techniques can be used to grow houlletiana at home. They can be mounted bare-rooted on slabs, hung in baskets, or potted in an appropriate potting medium.
Choose a potting medium that completely and quickly drains. Fibers from tree ferns or chunks of furry bark combined with sphagnum moss are two suitable possibilities.
We advise selecting a breakable wooden basket when it comes to making the appropriate choice. These baskets retain moisture, provide the roots sufficient airflow, and can easily hold the enormous development of these orchids.
As it is most consistent with their natural growth pattern, experts advise cultivating them in the bare-rooted format.
Growing from the Scratch
No matter how difficult it would seem to a novice to cultivate Aerides houlletiana from scratch, we can guarantee you that it is actually very simple. All you need is a little bit of time out of your busy schedule, patience, and the appropriate direction.
Seeds
Any orchid nursery will have sterile seeds for houlletiana. You must first plant them in a flask with an appropriate nutrient medium. Roots and shoots will finally start to appear under the ideal conditions for temperature, humidity, light, and water. After that, you can move the plant to a pot or basket with the right potting medium.
Fertilizer
More fertilizer should be applied to Aerides houlletiana orchids compared to other types of orchids. In the summer, we advise fertilizing every other watering, and in the winter, every third watering.
Always combine your fertilizer with water to dilute it. The best water for this dilution is reverse osmosis or filtered water, but you can also use regular tap water.
One point of advice we always provide orchid lovers is to soak the pot in fresh water for an hour before fertilizing. This straightforward procedure helps much in reducing any toxicity brought on by the frequent use of fertilizers.
Ventilation and Humidity
The ideal humidity levels required for Aerides houlletiana orchids are at least 50%, although higher values are even preferable.
You will require a hygrometer, a device that detects levels of ambient humidity, in order to sustain these high levels.
By placing similar plants together and utilizing pebble trays filled with water under the pot, you may artificially boost humidity. You can even sprinkle your plants at night.
While growing plants in environments with such high humidity levels, it’s crucial to ensure adequate air circulation. In the absence of it, the plant is vulnerable to fungus infections and root rot.
Re-pot
- Every two years, orchids need to be repotted.
- As new roots and pseudobulbs begin to grow at the corners of the pot, that is one indication that your orchid needs to be repotted.
- About 2 inches should separate the new pot from the old one.
- Cut away the potting soil from the old pot’s edges with a knife.
- Because the roots of this orchid are so lengthy and sensitive, you should gently move the entire orchid and potting medium to a new pot.
- During at least the first week, keep dry. Furthermore, hold off on fertilizing straight soon.
Additional Problems and Their Solutions
You should keep an eye out for any potential insect and bug infestations in your plant as a conscientious orchid parent.
Regularly remove decaying, dead, and old flowers, leaves, and pseudobulb sheaths. These locations are constantly a possible haven for pests to spread.
Use orchid pesticides to treat your plant if you do notice any pests there.
Fungal infections are frequently brought on by overwatering and poor ventilation. Yellow or brown leaves or stems are the first warning signs of such an occurrence. If any of these symptoms or signs appear, get help right away from a fungicide that works.
Keep your orchids clean and dust-free by cleaning them frequently. Every time we water our orchid, we give it a thorough bath.
Conclusion
Aerides Houlletian hybrid
This article has taught us how to properly care for and grow Aerides houlletiana orchids at home. The information that is most likely to be useful is listed below.
- The orchid Aerides houlletiana is well-known for its golden petals and fragrant citrus and spices.
- Throughout the majority of the day, these indoor plants require intense indirect light.
- Use caution when watering them. Prior to watering the soil again, let it dry slightly (but not entirely).
- Orchids that are mounted need daily watering.
- Never overwater your orchids because doing so might cause terrible fungus infestations.
- Choose a potting material that drains effectively, such as sphagnum moss blended with fir bark.
- Every two years, repotting
- All year long, Aerides houlletiana requires humidity levels of at least 50%. Ensure that there is adequate airflow around them.
Although maintaining an orchid may seem like a time-consuming task, it really only takes less than 10 minutes each day for this lovely orchid to bloom and fill your home with the aroma of citrus and spices.
