Table of Contents
Pronunciation: a-run-DEE-na
Other Names: Bamboo Orchid
Introduction
Arundina graminifolia is more commonly called the Bamboo Orchid due to its grassy, reed-like foliage and its large clumps of bright, showy flowers.
Arundina Graminifolia Singapour
This tropical orchid is a favorite ornamental flower in its native Hawaii. You'll also find it growing wild in Nepal, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia.
The reedy stems on this orchid give way to large clusters of up to ten flowers on a single stem. It'll grow to heights that range between 70 centimeters and 2 meters with the long, thin, leaves spreading out from 9 to 19 centimeters.
The orchid blooms in late summer to early autumn and the flowers are 5 to 8 centimeters in diameter and feature a bright, lilac hue with a white disk.
Temperature
As this orchid comes from tropical regions, you'll need to maintain a daytime temperature between 70°F to 85°F (21°C to 29°C) during the summer months from March to October. During the nighttime hours, the temperature shouldn't go below 60°F (15°C), and the closer it stays to the low 70s, the better it is for your plant.
During the winter months between November and February, keep your orchid in slightly lower daytime temperatures around 61°F (16°C) with nighttime temperatures around 50°F (10°C). This is when it will go dormant.
Light
Arundina graminifolia does very well in sunny locations, but don't put it in direct sunlight as the leaves can burn due to the higher humidity and moisture levels.
Diffuse the level of sunlight your orchid gets by placing it slightly away from windows. It'll still get a lot of sunlight, but it won't be the hot, direct sunlight the plant doesn’t like.
Water and Humidity
At the start of the growing season from March until June, water your orchid sparingly until you start to see buds and signs that it's growing. When you see these, you can start to water it weekly and spritz it between watering to keep it moist until October.
Once October starts, your orchid will start to go dormant, and when it goes completely dormant, stop watering it until it starts to flower again in mid-February or early March.
You also want to maintain higher humidity levels during the early growth stages through the growing season. Try to have your humidity levels between 65% to 75% to ensure optimal growth. You can reduce the humidity level slightly when it goes dormant.
Feeding
Feed your orchid from March until October when it is in active growth. You should feed your orchid once every two weeks with a quarter of a packet of high-nitrogen fertilizer that you've diluted to half strength until it reaches its dormant period.
Don't feed it while it's dormant.
Potting
Your Arundina graminifolia is epiphytic, and this means it grows well mounted on bark, in a pot, or in a hanging basket. Refresh their potting medium every two to three years, and it's best to repot your bamboo orchid in the springtime.
When you've removed it from the pot, cut away any dead or dying roots. You can repot it back into the original container with fresh compost mixed around its roots. Water it sparingly for six weeks to help it reestablish itself, and don't bury the roots completely as they do better when they're semi-exposed to the air and sunlight.
You may also want to stake it if it's top-heavy to prevent breakage.
Video
See the Arundina Graminifolia growing in a garden alongside herbs like basil and thyme.
There are many other gorgeous orchids you can add to your garden collection. Check out our comprehensive list of the different types of orchids to see more beautiful variants.
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