Microcoelia exilis Pinhead Orchid

 Microcoelia exilis  Pinhead Orchid Iphamba

Description

Microcoelia exilis  is a monopodial leafless epiphytic orchid with an extensive branching root system with long roots resembling an untidy bird’s nest hanging from the branch of a tree. The roots grow into open clumps that allow a maximum amount of light to reach all of the roots. The grey roots with orange growing tips contain the chlorophyll that aids in photosynthesis. 

Plants have a stem from which masses of very small, white flowers, the smallest of all orchid flowers naturally growing in South Africa are borne on a very long flowering stem.

There is a very distinctive spherical spur present

The flower stems of Microcoelia exilis are slender, arching and drooping, becoming from 6 cm to 12 cm long with time. The inflorescences emerge from below new roots. 

From 20 to 80 tiny white flowers may be found in one spike, a flower less than 2 mm in diameter. A brownish anther cap is visible in each flower centre. There is a very distinctive spherical spur present, 1 mm in diameter.

Flowering can occur nearly throughout the year, mostly from mid-summer to early autumn.

Exilis means thin, weak or meagre in Latin, probably referring to the inflorescence.

Distribution and habitat

Microcoelia is an orchid genus consisting of 31 species endemic to Africa.

The species Microcoelia exilis  is an epiphytic perennial that grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Its range includes South Africa , Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Southern Madagascar where it grows on the small branches and twigs of trees  in gallery forests, woodland, secondary forests and plantations, at elevations of up to about 1,800 m (6,000 ft)

In the South Africa I have found Microcoelia exilis growing in Sand Forest, a region of ancient dunes northern KwaZulu-Natal in deep shade on Cola greenwayi and Drypetes arguta. In the Durban area I have seen them growing on Syzygium cordatum, and in deep shade on Mangifera indica (mango)

Cultural uses

In South Africa it is used as a love charm.

Cultivation

I have grown these orchids in Durban South Africa for nearly 50 years both outdoors as well as more recently indoors. Microcoelia exilis is an easy to grow epiphyte that possesses a nearly complete disregard for whatever it might be mounted on. An occasional root or two might attach to its host to stabilize its growth but the vast majority of the plant thrives in the open air. In cultivation they can be suspended tied to a piece of string, placed on a piece of plastic mesh, tied to a wooden mount or simply placed on top of an empty pot which has a stone placed into it to give it stability. I have even grown them to a potted shrub.

They grow easily and well under both low, medium and high light intensities requiring plenty of water and very little feeding, in fact too high concentrations of feed very easily damage or kill them, be sure to soak them frequently in pure water to remove any salt concentrations that may collect on your plant.

My plants are watered daily, a few times a month I add a very dilute amount of feed to the water followed the next day with a heavy drench of water or I soak the plant in a bucket of water for 15 minutes to remove any excessive accumulation of salts from the roots.

When happy they grow and multiply extremely quickly in comparison to most other of our local orchids and when happy and well established they flower almost continuously throughout the year.

Article written by Michael Hickman 27.06.2023

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Oeceoclades lonchophylla

 

Oeceoclades lonchophylla

Distribution and habitat

Oeceoclades lonchophylla is a terrestrial orchid species found growing in deep shade in leaf litter in coastal forest in  northern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, Tanzania and the Comoros islands.

Oeceoclades lonchophylla that I have seen in the wild have all been growing in relatively dry coastal forest on deep alluvial sands, where they were found growing in leaf litter in association with Sansevieria concinna and Scadoxus membranaceus both of which have leaves that are very similar in appearance making it hard to spot them growing together with these plants. Other plants growing together with Oeceoclades lonchophylla have been Scadoxus multiflorus, Scadoxus punicious and Microsorum scolopendrium.

Appearance

The Oeceoclades lonchophylla look and feel as if they are made of plastic.

The shiny leave blades of Oeceoclades lonchophylla are very thin being only 0.7mm, they are see through, a dull green colour with cross hatching with a darker green along the length of the parallel venation. The averaging length of the blade being 130 – 140 mm and between 50 – 55 wide, with petioles averaging 200mm in lenght.

The pseudobulbs are conical 30 – 40 mm long and 15 mm at the base, they are same dull dark green as the petioles and leaves.

The inflorescence which is 3.4 – 4 mm in diameter is between 500 – 600 mm long carrying between 

50 – 65 individual blooms is produced in December and January has a fairly long flowering time.

 

Annually in early summer Oeceoclades lonchophylla produces a new leaf, the inflorescence following shortly thereafter. Healthy plants will occasionally create a new additional lead.

In cultivation I have found that Oeceoclades lonchophylla grows well indoors under relatively low light conditions 250 – 350 lux in a loose sandy very well drained growing medium with a little added coarse compost and partly decomposed twigs and bark. I ensure good air movement at all times from open widows in the cooler months of the year and the additional use of a fan in the hot humid summer months. The relative humidity varies from around 55 percent in the winter up to 95 in the summer the average being around 75 percent.

Watering and feeding.

I ensure that the roots remain moist throughout the year increasing the amount of watering during the period of active growth, however I am careful not to over water them or allow the growing medium to become waterlogged. To prevent waterlogging and to increase gas exchange in the root zone it is advisable to have spacers under the pots to allow for free drainage and for air to enter the pots from below.

I feed frequently at very low concentrations usually one quarter or less than the recommended application rate with a variety of feeds, being EasyGro™ Flower and Fruit 3:1:6(46) hydroponic feed distributed by  Rolfes Agri, Seagro, Nitrosol, fulvic acid as well as with both black as well as rooibos tea.

Periodically I flush out the pots with clean tap water to remove any buildup of salts or other harmful substances of decay in the growing medium.

General care

The leaves are cleaned with water and a cloth from time to time to remove dust and other contaminants.

The leaves get a very light misting most mornings with tap water in the winter months I use warm water of about 40 degrees Celsius.

I lightly sprinkle the growing medium with a granular systemic neonicotinoid insecticide as a preventative measure against insect pests in particular those that attack the roots and the bases of the pseudobulbs that usually go unnoticed until the plant shows advanced signs of damage.

Article written by Michael Hickman 24.01.2023

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Growing Asplenium prionitis indoors

Asplenium prionitis

Asplenium prionitis

The specie name prionitis means like a saw, this fern has toothed pinna margins.

Habitat

On ground or boulders along streams or river courses, deep shade in wet coastal forests.

Distribution in South Africa

Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal

Distribution worldwide

Africa, Madagascar, Comoro and Mascarene Islands.

Cultivation

I have established that Asplenium prionitis makes a great very easy to grow houseplant, growing well indoors under relatively high light conditions but they do not tolerate full sun conditions for long without burning.

My plants originate for a small plant that I collected in the forest on the eastern side of the Wentworth hospital in Durban about 40 years ago.

Asplenium prionitis appear to grow in any well drained growing medium that has a high organic component. My plants are presently growing well in a mixture of coco fiber chips with a little added charcoal.

Watering

I water heavily about once per week to flush out the growing medium and mist daily using an insecticide sprayer.

The sprayer I use to water and feed my plants

Fertilizing

I feed frequently using a very dilute amount of a variety of plant feeds such as

EasyGro™ Flower and Fruit

is a 3:1:6(46) water soluble fertilizer, high in concentrations of Potassium ideally suitable for crops during the flowering and fruiting stages.

SEAGRO™ Bio-Fertiliser

Bionutrient with Enhanced Amino Acids. A fish emulsion rich in micro & macro elements and 17 amino acids. Seagro is used as organic fertilizer in agricultural practices for maintenance of crop health. Seagro has a remarkable impact on crop quality as well as yield through the activation of key metabolic processes. Seagro serves not only as a nutrition and stress reliever, but also plays an important role in the vitality of the microbial population in the soil.

Nitrosol Original Biological Fertiliser

is the original formulation developed by Dr. Peter Kauzal, a veterinary surgeon, from ruminant blood and bone. Nitrosol Original has a balanced NPK of 11.5.7 plus trace elements and minerals and recommended for use in all horticultural crops and home garden.

Fulvic acid.

Fulvic acid is group of chemicals formed when plants and animals break down. It is found in the humus (organic matter) part of soil and peat, and is also found in streams and lakes.

Fulvic acid benefits of increases root respiration and formation,enhance plant growth and yield. Humic fulvic acid can enhances pH buffering capacity, enhances photosynthesis and respiration, increases cationic exchange.

Brings about an improvement in the transport of nutrients, making them available in the areas of need. Increases the synthesis of proteins and nucleic acids, which will facilitate the action of enzymes formed with some amino acids and micro-nutrients.

Tea

I also feed and mist regularly with a week solution of both black tea and rooibos tea which appears to be very beneficial to both my ferns as well as my orchid plants.

Propagation

Asplenium prionitis propagates very easily from spores if one has the patience to wait a few years for a good sized mature plant, the plus factor is that one can easily propagate large numbers of new plants.

The sporangium containing the spore can be clearly seen under the leaves

The method that I use is to obtain a large glass jar into which a place a layer of small crushed stone topped with a thin layer of silica sand used for swimming pool filters. Over this layer I place a thin layer of peat or coco peat that is salt free onto which I sprinkle the ripe spore. To water I use a small insecticide spray bottle watering enough that the water creates a small reservoir of water approximately half way up the crushed stone. I then cover the jar with a piece of cling wrap that can be fastened by an elastic band of piece of string and place the jar in an area of bright light that does not receive and direct sunlight or under lights giving around 5,000 lux for between 12 -14 hours.

Asplenium prionitis seedlings growing in the jar they were planted in

When large enough I pot the seedlings into small pots and place in a very humid place usually over a tray of water.

Asplenium prionitis seedling that was planted out six months ago

Pest control

To date I have not encountered pests on my plants however I treat them on a regular basis As I do with my other indoor plants as a precaution because other Asplenium species that I grow are prone to soft scale and mealie bug attack. In the past I sprayed my plants which entailed the use of spray overalls, googles and respirator which was a major task and was both hazardous to my health as well as made the entire house stink for a day or two. Furthermore, this process needed to be repeated on a regular basis. I now use a granular Insecticide with great success and no fuss at all. The product that I use is , Efekto Granules Plus active ingredient Imidacloprid (chloro-nicotinyl) which I apply to the roots and is taken up by the roots and evenly distributed to the entire plant which is highly effective against most sucking insects and provides long term control between 4 – 8 weeks. Efekto Granules Plus is a Neonicotinoid a class of neuro-active insecticides chemically similar to nicotine compared to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides, neonicotinoids are less toxic to birds and mammals, and therefore very safe to use within the home environment.

However, Neonicotinoid has a very bad name for very good reasons for widespread agricultural use, for reasons that do not apply at all for very limited indoor use, in fact it is an ideal insecticide for indoor application due to its low toxicity for humans and its very targeted use in comparison to sprayed insecticides.. Neonicotinoids have been studied in relation to adverse ecological effects, including honey-bee colony collapse disorder (CCD), and declining populations of insect-eating birds. In 2013, the European Union and some neighbouring countries restricted the use of certain neonicotinoids. In 2018 the EU banned the three main neonicotinoids (clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam) for all outdoor uses, but in 2020, France re-allowed the use of neonicotinoids on sugar beet crops. Several US states have restricted neonicotinoids out of concern for pollinators and bees.

Article written by Michael Hickman 21.12.2022

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Eragrostis lehmanniana

Eragrostis lehmanniana var. lehmanniana

Eragrostis lehmanniana var. lehmanniana

Common names

Lehmann love grass, Lehmann's love grass

Eragrostis lehmanniana var. lehmanniana is one of the many grasses that I have collected and have growing on my property in  Mount Moreland. This particular species that I collected in Jwaneng in Botswana has been grown because of its most beautiful blue to grey colouration.

Description

Eragrostis lehmanniana var. lehmanniana is a tufted perennial grass. The culms are up to 60-90 cm high with narrow leaves 1-3 mm wide. Panicles are 10-20 cm long, lax and open. Its bunch habit is somewhat open in that individuals do not form a compact crown with numerous stem bases.

Eragrostis lehmanniana var. lehmanniana inflorescens

Distribution

Eragrostis lehmanniana is native to Southern Africa where it occurs over much of the summer rainfall area. Eragrostis lehmanniana is adapted to semi-arid, tropical and subtropical summer-rainfall areas and is fairly tolerant of drought.

Habitat

Eragrostis lehmanniana flourishes in areas of low rainfall of 300-500 mm in particular in sandy soils of pH 7.0-8.5. Eragrostis lehmanniana is common in several habitat types such as Acacia woodland and Kalahari grasslands and savanna. It tolerates high pH caused by calcium and magnesium rather than by sodium. It is often found in areas where disturbance or over grazing has taken place.

Eragrostis lehmanniana is a very productive grass. In South Africa, reported yields are 6-7 tons dry mass per hectare per year.

Eragrostis lehmanniana var. lehmannianashowing the colour of the stems

Uses

Eragrostis lehmanniana is a valuable grazing grass in the more arid regions where it is one of the first grasses to sprout in the spring and after rains. Eragrostis lehmanniana is also widely used for reseeding disturbed areas because it gives a rapid soil cover. 

Forage management

Eragrostis lehmanniana should not be too closely grazed and must be well established before being grazed. Only half the annual growth should be grazed off, but it can be continuously grazed for maximum production. However, a late summer rest improved the total available carbohydrates, crude protein and phosphorus contents, and allows the grass to seed.

Article written by Michael Hickman 16.11.2017

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http://www.hlem.co.za/grass.html