Notylia

Family. Orchidaceae.

Origin. Mexico, Bolivia, Brazil.

Description. Notylias are small epiphytic orchids with oblong pseudobulbs and green, oval-shaped leaves. During the flowering period, it shoots out from the top of the pseudobulb long leafless peduncles with many tiny green and white flowers, the diameter of which does not exceed 1 cm. The flowers have a pleasant aroma.

Height. Miniature varieties can measure just a few centimeters in height, while some orchids reach 30 centimeters.

Care at home

Temperature conditions

In spring and summer, keep at normal room temperature of about 20 - 22 ° C, it is advisable to provide a difference between day and night temperatures within 10 ° C. In winter - moderately cool keeping at a temperature of 12 - 14 ° C.

Lighting

Bright indirect light is necessary for abundant flowering. The leaves of orchids that receive enough light will be bright green, while with too much light they will have a yellowish tint. In the autumn-winter period, additional lighting with fluorescent lamps is possible.

Substrate 

Based on sphagnum moss, fern roots and pine bark, loose, nutritious, with the addition of perlite to improve drainage. Add small pieces of charcoal to the finished mixture. The soil must be air and moisture permeable. 

Feeding

Top dressing is carried out from April to November - at this time notilia has a period of active growth. These plants need regular top dressing with fertilizers specially designed for orchids, and the fertilizer is diluted to half the recommended dose, since too concentrated a solution can burn the root system.

Flowering time

Spring - summer, flowering period lasts 2 - 3 weeks.

Air humidity

Like most orchids, it prefers high humidity. Spray the leaves with soft water at room temperature or surround the pot with a layer of wet sphagnum. When spraying, try to avoid getting water on the flower stalks. Provide this orchid with a room with good air circulation.

Watering

In spring and summer, keep the soil moist, allowing the top layer to dry out between waterings. Excess water that appears in the pan after watering must be removed. For irrigation, it is advisable to use softened bottled or distilled water at room temperature. In autumn, the frequency of watering is gradually reduced as the orchids go into a dormant state. In winter, watering can be replaced by spraying. 

Transplant

Repot notilia into larger pots in spring when the pseudobulbs become crowded in the pot. Mature specimens need to be repotted approximately every two to three years. The best time to repot is spring. To reduce possible root damage, soak the orchid container in warm water for ten minutes to make the roots more flexible and make it easier to remove the plant from the pot.

Reproduction

Divide the plants in the spring. The rhizomes are cut into two or more parts, making sure that each part has at least two pseudobulbs. The delenki are planted in separate 7 - 10 cm pots. Water very sparingly until new growth appears. 

Pests and diseases

The color of notylia leaves will easily indicate possible errors in care. Bright green leaves are considered a sign of a healthy plant. Lack of light causes the leaves to darken; too much light causes them to turn yellow. Orchids are often subject to fungal infections, root rot, and late blight. 

Harmful insects that may appear include mealybugs and thrips.