Skip to content Distribution:
Über 100 Arten, die meisten endemisch in Australien. Einige Arten in Neuseeland, Neukaledonien und Neu-Guinea.
Plant Description:
Inflorescences 5 to 60 cm tall, with a rosette of leaves at the base. The dorsal sepal and petals form a shoe-like or cap-like shape. The flowers are predominantly green with white, brown, or reddish hues. The movable lip is partially enclosed within the cap and closes upon contact, allowing trapped insects to pollinate the flower as they emerge through the narrow opening.
Cultivation:
Greencaps are, with few exceptions, easy to care for. Most species form colonies and reproduce vegetatively annually by a factor of 2 to 5. The plants are dormant in summer (with a few exceptions) and survive as small, round tubers. They appear in late summer or early autumn and flower in autumn, winter, spring, or summer. Cultivate in partial shade. Hardy to -3°C. Regular watering during the growing season is essential. Fertilize monthly with 0.3g/l until flowering. Once the plants go dormant, reduce watering and eventually stop completely. Potted plants should be kept completely dry during dormancy. However, small plants and seedlings should receive occasional watering during summer to prevent them from drying out. Indoor plants should be temporarily moved outdoors in late summer. Cool nights and some rain will end their summer dormancy and stimulate new growth.
Recommended soil mixtures:
80 to 90% mineral, depending on availability. Volcanic granules, volcanic stratification, pumice, Seramis, 10 to 20% acidic organic components. Rhodohum and Sphagnum have proven effective. The potting soil must be well-draining, with a pH of 5 to 6. An organic substrate consisting of 90% Rhodohum with 10% mineral components also yields good results. For mineral substrates, fertilize with slow-release fertilizer. Approximately 1g of Klanz autumn fertilizer per plant. See also potting soil.
Remarks on the plants offered
Recommended reading:
Cultivation of Australian native orchids produced by the Australasian Native Orchid Society, Victorian group Inc. Helen Richards, Rick Wootton, Rick Datodi.
Orchids of Western Australia produced by the Western Australian Native Orchid Study and Conservation Group. Kingsley W. Dixon, Bevan J Buirchell, Margret T. Collins
Native orchids of Australia. David Jones, 1993. Reed, ISBN 0 7301 0189 4.
Orchids of south-west Australia. Noel Hoffmann and Andrew Brown, 1992. University of Western Australia Press, ISBN 1 875560 13 0.
The Orchids of Victoria. Gary Backhouse and Jeffrey Jeanes, 1996. Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Victoria. ISBN 584.1509945.
Field Guide to the Orchids of New South Wales and Victoria. Tony Bishop, 2000. Second edition. University of New South Wales Press. ISBN 0 86840 706 2.
