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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
