Guaria Morada

Guaria Morada Care

Guarianthe Skinneri

What is the plant

Guarianthe skinneri is native to Southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. It is one of the most popular orchids in Costa Rica and has even been recognized as a national flower. These plants are usually found in damp mountain forests, ranging from sea level up to a height of about 1250 m, but also occur on higher-lying rocks, where rainfall is higher and evaporation is lower.

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Humidity

High

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

11°C - 25°C

Hardiness zone

11 - 11

Difficulty

Medium

How to Care for the Plant

Water
In the period from late spring to autumn rainfall is abundant. Their quantity then drops sharply, resulting in a period of 4-5 months of drought. Guarianthe skinneri should often be watered during full growth, but the roots must always dry quickly after watering. When new growths reach maturity in the autumn, the amount of water should be reduced.
Fertilizer
During the period of strong growth, the plants should be fertilized every week with 1/4-1/2 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids. A fertilizer with a high nitrogen content is beneficial from spring to mid-summer, and a fertilizer richer in phosphorus should be used in late summer and autumn.
Sunlight
Guarianthe skinneri needs a light level of 25000-35000 lux. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time.

Disease diagnosis

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Soil
You can use thick bark, or cork pieces mixed with large lumps of charcoal. These plants can also be mounted on tree-trunks or cork, but because they should be provided with high humidity throughout the year, they must be watered at least once a day during the summer. In the case of such suspended plants, during the dry and hot periods it may be necessary to water several times a day.
Temperature
It is a thermophilic plant. Throughout the year, the average day temperature is 25-28 ° C, and the average night temperature is 15-18 ° C, with a daily amplitude of 9-11 ° C.
Container
You can use small pots or baskets filled with a very thick, loose, fast-drying substrate that allows the roots to dry quickly after watering. It is recommended to use smaller pots sufficient for 1-2 years growth, because the substrate in larger pots stays wet for too long after watering.