Aerangis somalensis

Aerangis somalensis is a rare and captivating epiphytic orchid native to East Africa. It thrives in regions such as Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, typically found at elevations between 1,000 and 1,800 meters in thickets near streams and woodlands.

Features:

• Growth Habit: Compact, epiphytic orchid with short stems carrying 2 to 6 distichous, oblong-ligulate to suborbicular, unequally bilobed apically, acute lobes, dark green to purple-green leaves.

• Flowering: Produces white, star-shaped flowers with long, ribbon-like nectary spurs, emitting a sweet fragrance in the evening and at night to attract moths.

Care Tips:

• Light: Prefers bright, filtered light; avoid direct midday sun.

• Temperature: Thrives in intermediate to warm temperatures, with daytime averages around 25°C and nighttime around 16°C.

• Humidity: Requires high humidity levels, ideally between 60% and 85%.

• Watering: Mimic its native environment by providing a drier winter period with reduced watering. During the growing season, water regularly, ensuring the medium dries slightly between waterings.

• Fertilization: Use a balanced orchid fertilizer during the growing season. Avoid fertilizing during the winter rest period.

• Substrate: Best grown mounted on cork or wood, but can also be cultivated in well-draining orchid mix with materials like bark, sphagnum moss, and perlite.