Aerangis punctata

[mrhappyrotter]

A cutie for sure! This is a real miniature gem.

The flowers are nicely scented for an hour or few right as it starts getting dark. They're proportionally huge compared to the size of the plant, but pretty typical size compared with other Aerangis.

So far this one has been easy to grow and flower for me. I was not anticipating that -- I typically assume most micro/mini orchids are a bit more demanding than their larger cousins. I think having the layer of live Spanish moss around it helps create a nice humid micro-climate, even when the general humidity levels are a bit low, but still allows good air flow around the cork mount and roots.

This plant has been a regular reliable bloomer for me as well, which is nice. I don't know if there's a secret to blooming them, I just know that this plant likes my growing conditions. For the first several years I had this plant, I grew it indoors year round, but for the past couple/several years, I keep it outdoors from spring through fall, and then bring it in when temperatures start getting cold.

This was a gift from a friend of mine that I've had for many years now, so I don't know where it originally came from.

 

[Tom-DE]

Love it! I used to have a small collection of Angreacoids also...love them all!

 

[Djthomp28]

I love this species! Nicely done.

 

[PeteM]

It’s gorgeous, well done. I have a small collection of Aerangis and they bloom from time to time. This is one of my favs and mine is isn’t spike right now. How are you growing yours, mounted?

 

[My Green Pets]

Really nice, and what a crop of Tillandsia usneoides on top!

 

[mrhappyrotter]

It’s gorgeous, well done. I have a small collection of Aerangis and they bloom from time to time. This is one of my favs and mine is isn’t spike right now. How are you growing yours, mounted?

That's a very nice presentation!

Yes, this is mounted on cork bark, which it seems to appreciate. I also have A. biloba, which will be in bloom any day now. I grow that in a wooden basket with its own giant ball o' Spanish moss and assorted Tillandsias.

 

[mrhappyrotter]

Love it! I used to have a small collection of Angreacoids also...love them all!

At one time I had a number of other Aerangis species, but after one of them tested positive for virus (ORSV) I discarded some of the others that were showing similar symptoms. My biloba and this punctata were growing separately from the rest and I've tested them both at least twice to confirm that they are not infected.

 

[mrhappyrotter]

Really nice, and what a crop of Tillandsia usneoides on top!

I love the stuff! It's my secret ingredient for keeping mounted and bare root orchids happy!

I don't know if it's visible in this photo, but there's also some Tillandsia malemontii mixed in there. Vegetatively it looks a bit like usneoides on steroids. It has large purple flowers with a very similar scent as usneoides as well, to my nose it's almost exactly like brugmansia flowers if you're familiar with those. Unlike usneoides, malemontii flowers are scented day and night. Plus, it blooms pretty much constantly outside of the depths of winter.

 

[Tom-DE]

At one time I had a number of other Aerangis species, but after one of them tested positive for virus (ORSV) I discarded some of the others that were showing similar symptoms. My biloba and this punctata were growing separately from the rest and I've tested them both at least twice to confirm that they are not infected.

Normally Angraecoid orchids don't seem to have big problems with viruses, but I guess it could happen to any plants.