Orchid of the day: Aerides houlletiana

Aerides houlletiana

Arne bought Aerides houlletiana while he was at the Maryland orchid exhibition in March this year. The long aerial roots sprawling out from the basket caught his eye. It looked very tropical and as it turned out, Aerides houlletiana is native to the hot and humid lowlands of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Aerides houlletiana is classified as a vandaceous orchid meaning, the leaves are arranged in two rows along the main stem and the inflorescences (the entire flower cluster), emerge from where the leaf is attached to the main stem. All vandaceous orchids are monopodials, i.e. the orchids have a single stem and the growing point is at the tip or crown of the plant.  I'm really getting into this orchid language, aren't I? 

A) April 13th. Notice the sprawling roots.

B) April 13th. The flower stalk emerging out from the stem.

C)May 16th.  Aerides houlletiana, re-potted into a wooden hanging basket.

D) By May 16th, the flower stalk developed further. 

E) June 6th, hanging outside and the flowers were developing well. Exciting!

F) June 8th. A good shot of the buds on the stalk.

G) Up close of the buds. Some spiderwebs...how tropical!

H) June 14th. Within a short time, the buds opened up!

I) There are 20 flowers and at this time only a few were showing their yellow gold and lilac colors.

J) All 20 buds opened by June 28th.

K) Just hang outside in our backyard.

Well, I love Aerides houlletiana because it looked simply wild to me! The flowers smelled of citrus but from my Asian upbringing, I can safely say, it exudes a scent of lemongrass, fresh and bright! Reminds me of home.

This orchid is a fairly large evergreen epiphyte and thrives well in high and bright light. Right now it is hanging outside as Baltimore's weather in Summer can be above 80^oF (38^oC). We take it in when there is a heavy rainfall overnight. Beautiful colors, golden yellow white and lilac. Unfortunately, the flowers are beginning to wilt. Easy come, easy go.