Aganizia
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This beautiful flower was first found on the banks of the South American river Demerara. Aganizia is a stunningly beautiful epiphytic orchid with mesmerizing purple petals. You may already know this flower by a different name. Many gardeners and breeders also call it akakallis. However, in this article we will use exclusively its original name - Aganisia, because it comes from the ancient Greek word "agnos", which means pure and immaculate.
Later, this amazing flower was found in many other valleys and on the banks of many other rivers. However, wet estuaries and shores are not the only habitat of Aganizia. This charming dwarf grows even on high mountains and in arid savannas. Well, we invite you to find out more about this charming flower.
Orchid Aganizia: plant description
The Aganizia orchid has a creeping rhizome. It spreads along the ground, and so-called pseudobulbs are formed on it. Their length, on average, reaches from four to five centimeters, and their width is only one and a half centimeters. In addition, they are painted in a lovely emerald hue. However, noticing them is not such an easy task, because each of them is protected by special very thin cases.
The leaves of the Aganizia orchid are quite long and have an elongated shape. The veins on them can be traced very clearly, and each of the leaves reaches up to twenty centimeters in length. Moreover, their width is rarely more than six centimeters. And the petioles of this orchid are even shorter - only four centimeters in length.
To say exactly when exactly Aganizia will bloom is also not an easy task, because its flowering period has a rather wide spread: from the end of winter to the very beginning of summer. However, the flowering itself, unfortunately, does not last long: no more than two weeks.
At first, rather long, even in comparison with the leaves, peduncles appear, reaching sizes of thirty centimeters. They grow at the very base of the pseudobulb. On each peduncle, up to ten aganizia inflorescences follow. However, more often than not, there are slightly fewer of them: from eight to only two flowers. Each of them has an unusual shape characteristic of all orchids.
If you have seen them at least once in your life, you know exactly what a blooming Aganizia orchid will look like. Its petals are pale purple, and sometimes even pink. In addition, all those two weeks that this flower will give you its beauty, you can also enjoy its subtle sweet aroma. However, unfortunately, it is present only in natural varieties of aghanizia. The hybrids do not have it, sadly.
What kind of Aganisia orchids are there? Types and varieties
Naturally, this mesmerizing orchid does not exist in a single copy. Although, it will not be possible to single out many species and varieties. Natural, according to breeders, there are only four. The rest are hybrids or natural varieties of the four main species. However, all these are only those aganesias that are found in the wild.
Speaking about domestic Aganizia, there are only two existing types:
- The first one is blue aganizia... In fact, this delicate and charming flower really deserves its rarity and attention to itself, because it is perhaps one of the most, if not the most beautiful orchid in existence. Its color is so rare and unusual that by its very presence it already attracts the eye. This pure sky blue shade is truly not found in any other orchid flower.
The only orchid with which Aganizia blue could compete for the title of the queen of this family is Orchid Cattleya... However, small flowers, which do not reach more than six centimeters in diameter, do not allow her to do this.
The form of this type of Aganizia can be described as follows: it really differs from many other orchids. In fact, looking at it, it is difficult to notice what exactly it is, but there is no doubt that the blue aghanizia is special. All its petals are located at an angle of sixty degrees to each other. What makes it especially beautiful is how geometrically exactly this angle is observed.
Three large petals have a delicate sky-blue tint, but three small petals are distinguished by their bright and rich bluish-purple color. Not so many varieties are known for this species, however, even considering how few of them, the choice will be an extremely difficult task, because each of the currently known varieties is incredibly beautiful and cannot boast of any clear advantage over others.
- The second of the house types of the Aganizia orchid is beautiful aghanizia... We believe that comments are superfluous, because the name of this species speaks for itself. She is really incredibly beautiful, however, of course, blue cannot be compared with aganizia.
Nevertheless, connoisseurs of white flowers will really like this orchid, because the milky shade is its distinctive feature. However, another feature that distinguishes the beautiful aghanizia orchid is a bright yellow spot in the center of the inflorescence, which makes this flower more exotic and somewhat similar to scrambled eggs.
However, despite this interesting and attractive color, the beautiful Aganizia cannot boast of its size at all and is significantly inferior to other types of orchids. Nevertheless, it will definitely take an honorable place in the collection of lovers of rare varieties.
How to plant the Aganizia orchid?
In the gardens of experienced gardeners, aghanizia is very rarely found growing in the open field. Most often it is grown in pots, into which a substrate specially prepared for this orchid is poured.
In order to prepare the mixture for planting this orchid, you will need the following ingredients:
- Scots pine bark (bark can also be suitable for this role);
- Perlite;
- Coal (of course, exclusively charcoal);
- Sphagnum moss.
The substrate is poured into the pot with a slide, on which the roots of aghanizia are very neatly placed.
Important! When planting, you must be very careful to ensure that the pseudobulbs are not under the substrate layer. As already mentioned, they are very sensitive, like the entire root system, by the way, and therefore deepening may end up rotting for them.
It is also important to take into account the fact that the root system of the aganizia orchid is constantly growing and developing. And therefore, as in the case of almost any plant, it is very important to take this growth into account and select a pot that can accommodate an ever-growing rhizome. On average, the distance between an old and a new pseudobulba is from three to five centimeters.
So be sure to calculate future growth before you take Aghanizia into its new "home". The pot is not the only potential shelter for this adorable orchid, however. As practice has shown, the plant also feels pretty good in a plastic basket.
Growing on a block will be no less suitable. To do this, the plant is attached directly to the bark, and its roots must be wrapped in moss to ensure their safety. This method, it should be noted, is quite exotic, but it is quite possible to try it out, because a plant growing on a block instantly attracts the eye and looks very interesting and exotic.
Important! Once again, we remind you that the root system of the aganizia orchid is incredibly delicate and fragile, and therefore all operations performed with it must be performed with surgical precision and care. Otherwise, you can completely accidentally and unintentionally harm the flower and even destroy it. In addition, do not disturb the aghanizia with transplants too often, because this can also harm the rhizome.
How to choose a place and what are the suitable conditions for a tropical orchid to smell
Aganizia, like any other orchid, is incredibly whimsical in terms of lighting plant. A pot of aganizia should be placed near the east or west window so that the orchid receives extremely diffused light. Otherwise, you, by placing it under direct scorching rays, may well provide the aghanizia with burns on the leaves, which, of course, will not benefit it. However, not enough light will not make the aghaniza any more beautiful either. It is quite possible that in this case it will not give a single inflorescence at all.
Much more than lighting, however, aghanizia is demanding temperatureat which she will have to grow. Every day you will have to maintain it within the following limits: the temperature during the day should not fall below twenty-four and rise above thirty-two degrees Celsius. At night, however, it should be maintained from eighteen to twenty-two degrees.
It is very important that the difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures is striking. If you can make a difference of five degrees, good. If you can easily make a difference of ten degrees Celsius, aghanizia will feel just fine.
How to care for Aganizia?
As you have already noticed, the Aganizia orchid is quite whimsical, which means that caring for it will be a rather painstaking task. Even the procedure glaze this tropical flower should be special.
In its natural habitat, Aganizia is watered exclusively with tropical rains, and therefore, when watering, it is necessary to try to imitate these conditions. To do this, you need to prepare the present, soft, warm (up to thirty degrees Celsius) water and arrange an artificial rain shower.
However, there is another option for watering: the orchid right in the pot can be dipped into the same water for twenty to thirty minutes. Over time, the soil will be completely saturated with water, and the plant can be returned to its original place. The frequency of watering is not fixed, and therefore it is necessary to carry out this procedure if and only when the substrate is completely dry.
However, this rule must be observed with utmost precision: if the orchid lives for at least a day without access to moisture, it will most likely die. Moisture should not only be in the Aganizia pot itself.
High humidity is also simply necessary to ensure that the Aganizia orchid feels comfortable. Often, achieving seventy to ninety percent humidity at home is an impossible task, to put it mildly. However, all kinds of moisturizers will help to cope with it, which can be purchased for a small price in any large store.
Do not forget to ventilate the room sometimes, because air circulation is extremely important. However, do not forget to protect the Aganizia orchid from drafts, because they are destructive for this tropical beauty.
Fertilizer for orchids Aganisia
The procedure, which is also strictly forbidden to be forgotten, is feeding. It should be done at least once a month if we are talking about root feeding. Leaves need to be sprayed with about the same frequency, but in the intervals between root dressings.
Irrigation water with various complex preparations added to it is used as a fertilizer. However, it is undesirable to follow the dosage indicated by the manufacturer of the drug on the package. For a tropical orchid, it can be too abundant, and therefore the recommended dose must be reduced by up to four times.
Orchid Aganizia: flower reproduction
Most plants can be propagated in completely different ways, however, speaking of Aganizia, a huge number of ways cannot be used.
In fact, the only really effective one is reproduction division rhizomes into two or three parts. However, when carrying out this procedure, it is important to observe one condition: at least three pseudobulbs must remain on each part obtained by dividing the rhizome. Otherwise, not only the rhizome itself may not survive such a procedure, but the part separated from it may well not take root.
Many have heard of the reproduction of the Aganizia orchid seedshowever, in fact, this method is not particularly applicable at home. It is used exclusively in large-scale industries with specially equipped greenhouses and laboratories. Since you most likely do not have all this complex equipment, it is better not to waste time, but immediately start reproduction by dividing the rhizome.
What problems and diseases can the Aganizia orchid face?
Throughout this article, we have reiterated that it is incredibly important to keep Aganizia in the conditions in which she is used to living in the wild. However, we never talked about the consequences.
The fact is that the worst thing is not even plant decay, because it occurs only in the most extreme cases. The main threat to the life of your flower is the weakening of its immunity, which can happen with any deviation from the norms. A weakened immune system is a real feast for all kinds of fungi, bacteria and viruses.
Most often, the following mistakes on the part of the gardener lead to this most unpleasant problem:
- Potted soil is too dry. This fatal error, as already mentioned, kills aganizia in just a day, and therefore it is imperative to monitor the humidity.
- Too strong drafts, or lack of air circulation, as such. These two extremes are also extremely undesirable, because both of them lead to the weakening of the flower's immunity described above, which significantly increases its risk of getting sick.
- Violation of temperature and lighting conditions.
- Neglecting the importance of temperature fluctuations day and night. Their absence is also fraught with many diseases of aganisia.
Unfortunately, the Aganizia orchid is not such a frequent guest in people's apartments, and therefore its diseases are practically not studied. As you can imagine, this also means that methods of dealing with them have not been studied. However, based on which family and which tribe this orchid belongs to, we can assume that it is susceptible to the same diseases as its distant and close relatives.
And this means that the greatest risk is posed by such ailments as all kinds of root rot, which capture not only the rhizome, but also pseudobulbs, as well as a variety of leaf rot, among which gray, brown and black rot can be distinguished.
Also, do not forget about the pests that can deliver and will certainly try to give you a lot of trouble at the first opportunity.Fortunately, there is much more information about them, and of those who like to feast on Aganizia, spider mites, scale insects and thrips can be distinguished. And, of course, this orchid was not spared by the most harmful and common garden pest - the common green aphid.
Conclusion
Yes, caring for the Aganizia orchid is a task that not every gardener can cope with, and certainly not a beginner. However, this tropical orchid truly rewards generously for all the work that you put into it with its godlike beauty, pleasant aroma and special pride in the fact that you have managed to grow such a wonderful and rare flower.
We hope our article will help you in taming the Aganisia orchid, and your home will really be transformed after purchasing it. It remains only to wish good luck, patience and attention to detail.