Holcoglossum kimballianum (Rchb.f.) Garay

Holcoglossum kimballianum (Rchb.f.) Garay, Bot. Mus. Leafl. 23(4): 182 (1972).

Holcoglossum kimballianum f. albescens; Photo Lourens Grobler

Family:

Orchidaceae.

Synonym Name:

Holcoglossum saprophyticum (Gagnep.) Christenson

Tsiorchis kimballiana (Rchb.f.) Z.J.Liu, S.C.Chen & L.J.Chen

Vanda kimballiana Rchb.f.

Vanda kimballiana var. lackneri Kraenzl.

Vanda saprophytica Gagnep.

VietNam Name:

Tóc tiên kimball

English Name:

Kimball's Holcoglossum (American Orchid Enthusiast late 1800's)

China Name:

Guan Ye Cao She Lan - 管叶槽舌兰 

Thailand Name:

Ueang Nuat Phram Lam Dam.

Description:

This species has white flowers with a purple-magenta lip with orange markings. The flowers last well and are about 2-3 inches in size. These plants prefer a fast draining mix and like to just dry out at the roots between watering.

Distribution:

China South-Central, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam (Sơn La, Lai Châu, Lào Cai). 

Ecological:

Epiphytic on tree trunks or rocks in forests; 1100-1800 m.

Culture: 

I have grown this with cool (50F) to cold (40F or less) minimum nights. Maximum days were from 75 to 95F in the summer. I now grow it in a cool greenhouse year round. It will do well with warm summers and cooler winters. Give it ample water and fertilizer during the summer growing season and a bit less water in the winter. I have found that a prolong dry rest is not necessary. It has done well for me in wooden baskets with little or no medium and also in net pots with large bark. It is best if it can be hung up so the light is bright and the growths don’t lay on the bench.