ORCHID SPECIES CULTURE
Charles and Margaret Baker

Domingoa haematochila (Rchb. f.) Carabia

AKA: Epidendrum hymenodes Rchb. f. not Lindley, Epidendrum haematochilum
Rchb. f., Epidendrum broughtonioides Grisebach, Domingoa hymenodes (Rchb.
f.) Schlechter. 
Plants were originally described as Epidendrum hymenodes by Reichenbach in
1865. Unfortunately, another plant had already been described by LIndley
using the same name, making Reichenbach's name invalid for use with this
plant. The mistake was not discovered, however, and it was then compounded
when Schlechter founded the new genus with Domingoa hymenodes as the type
species for the genus. 

ORIGIN/HABITAT: Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. These plants usually
grow with their roots firmly attached to small branches and twigs 
In Cuba, plants are found in the Sierra de Linares in Pinar del Río.
Habitat elevation has been estimated, so the following temperatures should
be used with caution. 

CLIMATE: Station #78315, Pinar del Río, Cuba, Lat. 22.4N, Long. 83.7W, at
164 ft. (50 m). Temperatures are calculated for an elevation of 1650 ft.
(500 m), resulting in probable extremes of 99F (37C) and 41F (5C). 

N/HEMISPHERE    JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
F AVG MAX        74   75   79   81   84   84   86   86   84   81   77   75
F AVG MIN        59   59   61   63   67   69   70   70   69   68   63   60
DIURNAL RANGE    15   16   18   18   17   15   16   16   15   13   14   15
RAIN/INCHES     1.8  1.7  2.5  2.6  7.0 10.3  6.6  7.0 10.7  7.7  2.5  1.4
HUMIDITY/%       79   80   76   76   80   84   79   79   87   84   80   86
BLOOM SEASON           *        **   **     
DAYS CLR @  6AM  11   10   15   15   13   10   11   13   10   17   14   18
DAYS CLR @ 12PM   5    5    5    1    4    1    1    2    2    4    5    8
RAIN/MM          46   43   64   66  178  262  168  178  272  196   64   36
C AVG MAX      23.3 23.9 26.1 27.2 28.9 29.1 30.1 30.0 28.9 27.2 25.0 23.9
C AVG MIN      15.0 15.1 16.2 17.3 19.5 20.6 21.2 21.2 20.6 20.1 17.3 15.6
DIURNAL RANGE   8.3  8.8  9.9  9.9  9.4  8.5  8.9  8.8  8.3  7.1  7.7  8.3
S/HEMISPHERE    JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC  JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN

Cultural Recommendations: 

LIGHT: 2500-3000 fc. Light should be somewhat filtered or diffused, and
plants should not be exposed to direct midday sun. Brisk air movement
should be provided at all times. 

TEMPERATURES: Summer days average 84-86F (29-30C), and nights average
69-70F (21C), with a diurnal range of 15-16F (9C). 

HUMIDITY: 80-85% most of the year, dropping to near 75% for about 2 months
in late winter and early spring. 

WATER: Rainfall is heavy from late spring into autumn but diminishes
rapidly into a 3-4 month winter dry season. Cultivated plants should be
watered frequently while actively growing 

FERTILIZER: 1/4-1/2 recommended strength, applied weekly during the
growing season. A high-nitrogen fertilizer is beneficial from spring to
midsummer, but a fertilizer high in phosphates should be used in late
summer and autumn.

REST PERIOD: Winter days average 74-75F (23-24C), and nights average
59-60F (15-16C), with a diurnal range of 15-16F (8-9C). Rainfall is
relatively low for 3-4 months in winter, but additional moisture is
generally available from heavy dew. Cultivated plants need less water in
winter. They should be allowed to dry out between waterings but should not
remain dry for extended periods. Fertilizer should be reduced or
eliminated until new growth starts and heavier watering is resumed in
spring. 

GROWING MEDIA: Growers report that plants are best grown on a slab of
rough cork without any medium around the roots. Plants grown on slabs
should be watered daily in summer, however, and several waterings a day
may be necessary during particularly hot, dry weather. If grown in pots, a
very open, fast-draining medium should be used and the pot hung where high
light and strong air movement are available. 

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES: The bloom season shown in the climate table is based
on cultivation records as D. hymenodes. 

Plant and Flower Information:

PLANT SIZE AND TYPE: A 4-12 in. (11-30 cm) sympodial epiphyte.

PSEUDOBULB: To 1.5 in. (3.8 cm) long. The thin, stemlike pseudobulbs,
which are covered with sheaths, are vaguely angular and become slightly
narrower toward the base. Plants are vegetatively similar to a
Pleuroallidinae.

LEAVES: 1.5-3.5 in. (3.8-8.9 cm) long by 0.5 in. (1.2 cm) wide. The
solitary, papery leaves are dark green, lanceolate-elliptic or
lanceolate-ovate, and sharply or bluntly pointed. 

INFLORESCENCE: To about 6 in. (15 cm) long. The inflorescence emerges from
the top of the pseudobulb and is completely covered by bracts. 

FLOWERS: Few. Blossoms on the few-flowered raceme usually open
successively over a rather long period of time. The faintly fragrant
flowers, which are about 1 in. (2.5 cm) across, are almost translucent in
texture, usually whitish green with longitudinal purplish lines. The lip
is generally dark brownish purple in the center. The more or less
spreading sepals and petals are lanceolate-ovate with sharply pointed
tips. The slender column is 2-winged at the apex and dilated into a foot
at the base. 

HYBRIDIZING NOTES: N/A. 

REFERENCES:  

Gale, J. [Not dated.] 1987. Catalogo Descriptivo de las Orquideas Cubanas.
Boletin No. 60 of the Estacion Experimental Agronomica Santiago de las
Vegas. Reprinted by Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Sing, Dehra Dun, India. 

Hamilton, R. 1988. When does it flower? 2nd ed. Robert M. Hamilton, 9211
Beckwith Road, Richmond, B.C., Canada V6X 1V7.

Hawkes, A. [1965] 1987. Encyclopaedia of cultivated orchids. Faber and
Faber, London. 

Withner, C. 1996. The cattleyas and their relatives, vol. 4: the Bahamian
and Carribean species. Timber Press, Portland, OR. 

PHOTOS/DRAWINGS: 

Withner, C. 1996. The cattleyas and their relatives, vol. 4: the Bahamian
and Carribean species. Timber Press, Portland, OR. 


Copyright 1998, Charles O. Baker and Margaret L. Baker
Sheet version 31280135

.........................................................................
Please remember that this sheet is for your use only, and though it was
provided free of charge, it may not be reproduced or retransmitted in
any way without permission.
.........................................................................

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 "Orchid Species Culture" Charles & Margaret Baker, Portland, Oregon USA

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