Gongora Galeata Orchid - Features and Care Instructions
Gongora is an epiphytic genus of sympodial orchids (with branched tuples on which axillary buds grow) that are generally present at altitudes between 0 and 1000 meters in humid tropical forests. From the oval pseudobulbs, very rigid, with 2-3 folded leaves, the suspended inflorescences emerge, starting from the base of the pseudobulbs, with lengths of over 1 meter in some species. The intricately shaped flowers are often fragrant .
It occurs endemically (as the only location on the globe) in Southern Mexico. Gongora Galeata usually occupies mountain slopes facing the Gulf of Mexico in alpine forests, at heights of 600-1800 meters. Medium-sized epiphytic species, rarely lithophyte or terrestrial, Gongora Galeata reaches a height of up to 37 cm.
Gongora Galeata needs a light level between 20,000-30,000 lux (2000 - 3000 lumens/m2, similar to the genera Cattleya, Dendrobium, Cymbidium ).
Moderate thermal requirements - in summer, the average temperature during the day is 24 °C with minimums of 16-17 °C at night. In winter, the average temperature during the day is 18-19 °C, with minimums of 12-13 °C at night.
Gongora Galeata needs a humidity of about 80% throughout the year.
Due to the pendulous inflorescences, Gongora galeata prefers planting on bark plates or in hanging baskets, with an aerated substrate that allows good drainage and medium to large graining. Replanting can be done at any time during the year, as soon as the plant grows new roots.
The plants will be watered abundantly during the growing period. The substrate must never dry completely. From autumn, watering will be gradually reduced.
The plants will be fertilized weekly, with a quarter/half of the recommended dose of fertilizer. An orchid fertilizer with a high nitrogen content is beneficial from spring to mid-summer, and from mid-summer to late autumn, a fertilizer richer in phosphorus will be used.
In winter, the substrate must be allowed to dry a little between waterings, but never completely. In general, a light watering will be administered every 3-4 weeks. The amount of water should be increased only if the pseudobulbs wrinkle excessively. Fertilization should be limited or completely abandoned until spring, when abundant watering of the plant is resumed.
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