Monkey Face Orchid: Detailed Guide to Planting Methods and Care Techniques
Monkey Face Orchid (scientific name: Dracula simia (Luer) Luer): Orchidaceae, a small epiphytic orchid of the genus Dracula, about 40 cm tall, with stout stems and alternate, obovate-lanceolate leaves. The flowers are paired in the leaf axils, funnel-shaped, with pedicels growing from the base, and the seeds are tiny. It blooms from April to May.
Growth Habits
The Monkey Face Orchid requires a cool growing environment, fears intense heat, is difficult to carry through the summer, and is not tolerant of frost either; 10°C-25°C is the suitable cultivation temperature. In the warmer regions of the south, it can be placed in a semi-shaded spot outdoors or grown in a plastic greenhouse all year round; in the Yangtze River basin or regions to the north, it should be cultivated in an intermediate-temperature or high-temperature greenhouse. In the three seasons of late autumn, winter and early spring, when temperatures are not very high, give it direct sunlight to help the plant form flower buds, bloom and set seed. If high-temperature weather occurs or in summer, increase humidity and cover with a shade net to lower the temperature; when the temperature falls below 10°C, keep it warm and provide heating.
Propagation Methods of the Monkey Face Orchid
1. Division: The Monkey Face Orchid is generally divided in early spring before the new shoots sprout. First take the mother plant out of the pot, remove excess substrate, separate the tangled root system as much as possible, and cut it open from the stem base with a sharp knife. Each new plant should retain two or more growths and carry a certain amount of roots, and a writing brush dipped in sulfur powder or carbendazim powder should be used to coat the wounds to prevent infection by pathogens. After division, the new plants can bloom in the same year.
2. Sowing: The Monkey Face Orchid can self-pollinate, but the seeds scatter easily, so they should be harvested in batches at the right time. Because the seeds of the Monkey Face Orchid are tiny, greenhouse cultivation usually involves autumn sowing, raising seedlings in flats or plug trays; the seeds need not be covered with soil, and after sowing they should be given ample light. Seedlings generally emerge in about 25 days. During the seedling stage, do not water too frequently; just keep the substrate moist. At the same time, spray a fungicide once a week. When 2-3 true leaves have grown, transplant once; when the seedlings are more than 10 cm tall, plant them into pots. Seedling plants grown from seed can bloom in 1-2 years.
How to Grow the Monkey Face Orchid
1. Substrate: The Monkey Face Orchid prefers a slightly acidic substrate that is loose, breathable and well-draining, able to keep the roots moist without waterlogging. Generally, a substrate for epiphytic orchids can be used. When potting small seedlings, first place a 2-3 cm thick layer of coarse-grained substrate or clay pebbles at the bottom of the pot as a drainage layer, sprinkle some Osmocote controlled-release fertilizer granules on top as a base fertilizer at 2-3 grams per pot, and cover with a 1-2 cm thick layer of substrate, then place the plant in, so as to separate the fertilizer from the roots and avoid burning them.
2. Water: The native environment of the Monkey Face Orchid is relatively dry, and too long a period of cloudy and rainy days makes it prone to pathogen infection. Therefore, during the growing season the relative humidity should preferably be kept between 50-75%. When the temperature is around 20°C, maintaining the indoor natural environment is sufficient. When the summer temperature reaches above 25°C, carry out artificial humidification, generally using fans and cooling pads or a high-pressure misting system, but avoid spraying water onto the leaf surface. When humidity is too high, increase ventilation, otherwise pests and diseases easily occur. The water requirement of the Monkey Face Orchid generally depends on the substrate used; if sphagnum moss is used, water less, and water promptly when the substrate is 70% dry.
3. Fertilizer: The Monkey Face Orchid needs relatively little fertilizer, generally at a concentration of 3000 times dilution; during the growing season from May to October, fertilize once every two weeks, preferably applying liquid fertilizer to the root zone and spraying the leaf surface. During the growing period, the Monkey Face Orchid mainly uses nitrogen fertilizer and balanced fertilizer, commonly a mixed fertilizer with N:P:K=30:10:10 or 20:20:20. During the flowering period, a mixed fertilizer with N:P:K=10:30:10 is commonly used. Fertilizing is best done in the evening, followed by one clear-water watering early the next morning. At the same time, during the flower-bud stage, spray the leaves once a week with orchid-specific flowering fertilizer, Hyponex No. 3, potassium dihydrogen phosphate and other phosphorus-potassium fertilizers to make the flower spikes sturdier and the flowers more brilliant.