Trichopilia Tortilis

Trichopilia Tortilis is a species also known as The Twisted Trichopilia. It is a medium-sized epiphytic orchid with pseudobulbs, which are swollen, bulb-like structures that store water and nutrients. The plants have long, thin, and arching leaves that emerge from the pseudobulbs. The leaves are typically leathery and often have a glossy texture. It produces twisted, chocolate-coloured flowers with green margins on the petals and sepals. They have a white, tubular lip with an orange-spotted centre.

CARE key

GENUS

TRICHOPILIA

TYPE

SPECIES

NATIVITY

MEXICO

ELEVATION

0 to 1500 M

DECODING FOOT CANDLES(fc):

A foot-candle, is a measurement of light intensity. One foot-candle is defined as enough light to saturate a one-foot square with one lumen of light. Rather than measuring the amount of light that leaves a light source (lumen output), foot-candle measurements focus on the amount of light that reaches a surface area. Well, lets not get too much technical.

Let's understand it quickly with some comparisons,

Typical foot-candle reading for unobstructed sunlight - 10,000 fc ( imagine you are at the beach under clear sky )
Sunshine on a cloudy day - 100 fc ( imagine a day when you feel its about to rain but there is diffused sunshine )
Residential space (living) - 5-40 fc ( when your doors and windows are shut as you are using air conditioner )

That means, when we use a 50% shade net under the clear sky conditions, it is around 5000 fc that the surface receives. Under all weather conditions the 50% shade net on an average will allow 2500 - 3000 fc to fall on a square-foot of surface area.

And for those who have a lux meter (light meter) at home, remember that One foot-candle equals 10.76 lumens/lux.

UNDERSTANDING RELATIVE HUMIDITY:

Relative humidity is the ratio of how much water vapour is in the air and how much water vapour the air could potentially contain at a given temperature. It varies with the temperature of the air: colder air can hold less vapour. So changing the temperature of air can change the relative humidity.

Relative humidity is normally expressed as a percentage; a higher percentage means that the air–water mixture is more humid. At 100% relative humidity, the air is saturated.

Relative humidity only considers the invisible water vapour. Mists, clouds, fogs and aerosols of water do not count towards the measure of relative humidity of the air.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The factual information given on dynamic variable such as watering is irrespective of the media used for planting the orchid. That is, Imagine that the watering frequency given above is for a bare rooted specimen of this variety. Therefore, this watering frequency varies and has to be followed in accordance with the media used. More the quick drying tendency of the media more frequent the watering shall be. For example, charcoal/wood dries quicker than coconut husk/sphagnum Moss.
The elevation (above sea level) provided is to understand the level of Humidity available at the original natural habitat of the particular Species or Hybrid. Generally, higher the altitude, lesser will be the natural levels of relative humidity available for your plant to utilise. Thus, there might be a need to improve humidity artificially.
The best things about orchids are, these wonders are capable of adapting to any extreme changes in weather conditions provided their time, energy and initial support to assimilate to the new growing conditions. Thus there is no universal care guide for Orchid care. Their potency cannot be contained within these generalisations and the factual information. But we hope these details help you understand the basic requirements and natural demand of a particular Species or Hybrid.

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