Prosthechea cochleata for sale – Easy plant to grow, mostly grown for the ornamental flowers and for the leaves, planting season all year, better to buy plant or another option to start from seeds yet more challenging.
Prosthechea cochleata – information before buying:
Growing information: perennial plant, growing hardiness zone: 10-12, but mostly grown as house plant, water needed – small average big amount, light conditions – full shade, height: 20-60 cm, 12-24 inches.
Blooming most of the year in octopus shaped flowers that appear in octopus head” red-purple to black color and the “legs” green-yellow color.
Alternative names: Encyclia cochleata, Anacheilium cochleatum, Epidendrum cochleatum, Clamshell orchid, Cockleshell orchid, Black orchid, octopus orchid
Location – sunny place but with indirect light, humidity 60 to 80%.
Soil – well drained with a pH acidic to neutral (5 to 7)
Temperature – 15 to 25°C (59 to 77°F)
Watering – Abundant, with non-calcareous water, in the morning, every week. The quantity of water supplied must be at least equal to the volume of the pot. Drain well and do not leave water in the saucer. In winter, when it is not in vegetation, the watering will be spaced, but without never allowing the substrate to dry completely. The pot needs to be enough large to allow roots to dry quickly otherwise the roots could rot easily.
Fertilizing – Every two watering, follow the watering with a low-dose fertilizer pass. From spring to mid-summer use a fertilizer with nitrogen. Then use a fertilizer with phosphorus. It will improve flowering in the next season.
Repotting – In the spring, when the plant overflows out of the flowerpot, every 2 years generally. It is better to transplant or divide when new roots begin to grow or immediately after flowering. This allows plants to acclimatize in a relatively short time and provides them with the least amount of stress.
Pruning – No pruning required
Pest and diseases – Aphids, glasshouse red spider mites and mealybugs. Generally free disease
