How Do You Care For An Oeceoclades Maculata Plant?

Oeceoclades Maculata, commonly known as the African spotted orchid, is a perennial terrestrial orchid native to tropical Africa.

The species grows on trees, usually on the trunk of trees between 3–12 metres above the ground, and flowers are produced continuously throughout the year. The following condition should be considered when caring;

Sunlight

Place O. Maculata in an area that gets a full or partial sun. When exposed to direct sunlight, the plant should develop yellow and purplish spots on its leaves. The color can vary from light to dark purple or red spots depending on the exposure to sunlight.

Soil

The orchid prefers a well-drained, good quality potting mix. If the orchid is not blooming, mix in some commercial orchid food with the potting mix. Do not fertilize when it is blooming as this encourages leafy growth

. If you can’t find an orchid fertilizer that states it is okay to use on blooming orchids, then stop fertilizing all together until the plant stops blooming.

Watering

Water the plant when the ground dries out. An orchid that is kept too wet may develop root rot, so do not water it too often and allow the soil to dry out fully between watering.

In winter when the plant is resting, water sparingly and do not fertilize. In summer, when it is growing actively, water more freely and fertilize every two weeks with a weak liquid year around.

Temperature

The ideal temperature of Oeceoclades Maculata is between 16–28 °C (61–82 °F). During the winter, when the plant has no leaves, the temperature should be kept at a minimum of 10 °C (50 °F).

Humidity

Oeceoclades Maculata prefers humidity between 40% and 60%, with a maximum of 80%.

Fertilizer

A weak liquid fertilizer can be used throughout the year. Fertilize weekly in summer and fortnightly in winter with a low nitrogen fertilizer.

Repotting

Repot Oeceoclades Maculata every two years when the plant is dormant, that is when it has no leaves. Repotting should be done in spring or fall, after the new leaves have emerged. The plant can be repotted as a single unit or it can be divided and repotted at intervals if desired.

Propagation

Propagation can be done by division of the rhizome, or by seed. The seed should be sown in spring or fall and the seeds are usually ready for planting in 4 to 6 weeks.

Orchids are among the most diverse plants on Earth. There are more than 20,000 species of orchid in over 125 families, with each family having its own unique appearance and characteristics.

Orchids are native to every continent except Antarctica and grow in a diverse array of habitats including deserts, mountains and rainforests.

Pruning

When pruning Oeceoclades Maculata, make sure that you remove a large portion of the old roots. The older roots are weaker than the newer ones and can therefore be easily injured by being pruned off.

When pruning, try to observe the flow of water through the plant’s roots lines, so that you can decide on a safe angle at which to cut them.

How big do Oeceoclades Maculata get?

Oeceoclades Maculata can reach heights of1-1.5 ft. (20–43 cm) and the single leaf can span up to a maximum diameter of 3–4 in (7.5–10 cm). Oeceoclades Maculata can reach that height when the light conditions are suitable and when the plant receives adequate water and fertilizer.

Oeceoclades Maculata can reach that height when the light conditions are suitable and when the plant receives adequate water and fertilizer.

To grow Oeceoclades Maculata requires a cool temperature of about 50 °F (10 C) at night, and around 70 degrees F during the day. Require air movement, especially if humidity is high or if leaves show signs of fungal or bacterial infections.

How long does it take for Oeceoclades Maculata to bloom?

Oeceoclades Maculata’s flowers are produced on an inflorescence that can grow up to a length of 24in (43cm).

The growth of this flower spike may occur at different paces; some plants may complete development in 5 weeks while others need up to 7 months, depending on the conditions and the environment in which it is placed, it flowers once a year after reaching a certain age.

When kept in ideal conditions, for example when it is grown in a greenhouse or an indoor garden under artificial light, Oeceoclades Maculata can flower twice during a season. Sunlight and warmth reduce the plant’s flowers and buds, making them fewer.

Blooming time is also affected by temperature and the plant has to be exposed to a certain amount of coldness for the buds to bloom.

How do you propagate Oeceoclades Maculata?

Oeceoclades Maculata is very easy to propagate. You can start propagating by taking cuttings from the rhizome or from the leaf petioles.

When propagating by cutting, you should use a sharp knife or a razor blade to make a clean cut and let the cutting dry before planting it in soil.

The soil you use must be well drained and should be free of insects and other pests. The following are steps when propagating Oeceoclades Maculata by;

Seeds

• Plant seeds in a soil mix as strong as possible.
• Keep the soil moist and keep it away from drafts.
• Water frequently after the seeds has sprouted and the roots have come through. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely at any time during this stage of growth.
• When the seedlings are about three inches tall, some plants may be ready for transplanting.
• When you are ready to transplant, water them well with a mixture of water and a weak fertilizer for orchids.
• Move the seedlings into bigger pots in which they will have more room to grow.
• Do not overwater the plants or they will become weak and sickly. When you water them, do so until the water runs out the bottom of the pot.

Division

• Divide the Oeceoclades Maculata when it has produced a flower spike. Make sure the plants are well rooted before you attempt to transplant them. This can be done at any time of the year and all year round.
• Cut the Oeceoclades Maculata into sections along its rhizome and remove leaves growing from the root ball.
• Check the roots while you are cutting the Oeceoclades Maculata. The roots should be firm and thick, white and healthy looking.
• Water well after the stems has dried.
• Place a small amount of peat moss into a moist, clean pot, place in soil mix and cover seeds with soil mix and water thoroughly before planting in to the pot.

Propagation by Leaf Cuttings

• Use a sharp razor or knife to take cuttings from the leaf petioles.
• Immediately remove all traces of the original leaf by wiping it away with a damp paper towel.
• Use a cutting spade to dig into the soil and loosen it so that you can get a clean root ball when you transplant your new plant later on.
• If you do not want to wait to transplant, place the cuttings into little pots, cover the pot and set in a warm place so that the cuttings will root.

Is Oeceoclades Maculata toxic to cats?

Oeceoclades Maculata is a very toxic plant to cats. One cat can be poisonous enough to kill 4–6 adult dogs and one single cat can knock out a fully grown elephant.

The effects of Oeceoclades Maculata poisoning on a dog vary but in most cases, the dog will be lethargic and may show neurological or liver damage as well as chronic symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea or excessive salivation.

In extreme cases, the dog may die of anaphylactic shock. Oeceoclades Maculata contains the alkaloid cuscohygrine, a poison which is also found in the death cap mushroom.

The main cause of poisoning is the cat eating Oeceoclades Maculata, but ingestion of other parts of the plant can also result in poisoning. Because Oeceoclades Maculata contains an alkaloid called cuscohygrine, cats are more likely to be affected by it than dogs.

Is the Oeceoclades Maculata rare?

Oeceoclades Maculata is not a rare plant; however the plant does have a limited distribution and can be found in South America and in some parts of central and South America.

Oeceoclades Maculata is a very hardy plant; therefore it is not very rare and can be found in different parts of your country.

Oeceoclades Maculata is so hardy that it can grow in the shade of trees and other foliage. However, because of its specific habitat and climate preferences, the plant is rarer in some parts of the world. Oeceoclades Maculata is easy to grow, however it does require warm and humid conditions to grow properly.

Oeceoclades Maculata can also be propagated easily in mediums like soil mix, coco peat moss and even in sphagnum moss. Oeceoclades Maculata is a species of orchid native to tropical parts of Central and South America.

Oeceoclades Maculata is an epiphyte which means that it grows on tree limbs and is not a parasite. Like many other orchids, the Oeceoclades Maculata grows on other plants where they will attach themselves to a branch or a tree with their roots.

How do you identify an Oeceoclades Maculata?

Oeceoclades Maculata is a relatively easy orchid to identify, but this is more of a challenge if your know nothing about orchids. Oeceoclades Maculata is one of the easiest orchids to identify, however identification requires knowledge of the orchid’s habitat. The following are the features to identify Oeceoclades Maculata;

Leaves: Inflated brownish colored leaves with white veins. Oeceoclades Maculata has wide leaves which are deeply ribbed.

Flowers: Large flowers with a yellow labellum and red coloring on the lip. The petals of Oeceoclades Maculata are white in color and have reddish spots towards the end of the petals. Oeceoclades Maculata grows in zones 8-12, so this orchid is considered a warm weather orchid species, which means it, grows best in areas of high humidity, heat and shade.

Flower spike: The flower spike is a beautiful white, pink and yellow colored orchid; however the leaf has beautiful white flowers.

Habitat: The Oeceoclades Maculata has a wide habitat that includes zones for growth and the best place to find the orchid is on trees, foliage and near rivers. Oeceoclades Maculata is a tender species, which means that the orchid needs warmth and humidity to grow properly.

The flower spike of the orchid has large yellowish-white flowers with red spots towards the end of the petals. These flowers have a lip that has labellum in it with red stripes on it. Oeceoclades Maculata can grow to be about 2 inches tall.

Roots: Root is yellowish brown in color. There are three main roots in an orchid; the leaf, stem and the rhizome.

Stem: The stem of an orchid can be heart shaped (Physostegia) or round (Oeceoclades). The stem can also have small points on it called spurs.

Flower Bracts: 10 to 15 pairs of round brownish or greenish inflorescences that are usually channeled and contain male flowers, the bracts are usually brown but can be green on older plants.