Capanemia superflua is the most famous species of the Capanemia genus.
Known for being the most beautiful plant with the largest flowers in the genus, this species has some interesting facts:
- It was described in 1863 by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach.
- At that time, its name was Oncidium superfluum.
- Its name means “superfluous,” indicating its lack of importance. It was named due to the characteristic of its flowers (that’s why I say it was bullied).
- Today, it is a species well-known for the characteristics of its flowers.
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Characteristics
Capanemia superflua is a Brazilian orchid.
It is found especially in the south and southeast of Brazil, in the following states:
- Espírito Santo
- Paraná
- Santa Catarina
- Minas Gerais
- Rio de Janeiro
- São Paulo
- Rio Grande do Sul
Additionally, it can also be found in northern Argentina.
It is always found in higher places (500m / 1640 feet or more), and this orchid lives on trees, meaning it is epiphytic.
Flowers
Now you will understand more about Capanemia superflua’s flowers.
These flowers were once considered insignificant but, years later, they won the hearts of many orchid enthusiasts.
Flowering in spring, it produces an average of 12 flowers on its floral stems.
Its flowers measure between 7mm and 10mm (0,27 and 0,4 inch).
In the beginning, they have a slight pink tone that fades away over the days, and soon the flowers turn completely white.
The flowers last for 10 to 15 days on the orchid.
Fun fact: even though they can be as short as 1cm, Capanemia superflua’s flowers are the largest in the genus. With this size, it is considered a micro-orchid.
Cultivation of Capanemia Superflua
It is considered an orchid with medium to high cultivation difficulty, depending a lot on where you are.
Because it requires some somewhat complicated conditions, many people find it challenging to cultivate.
Follow the tips below to properly care for Capanemia superflua:
- It can be planted in pots or on trees, never in the ground.
- It likes high humidity, so if necessary, place a wet towel drying near your orchid.
- The temperature should be cooler, especially at night (be careful with very low or very high temperatures).
- The location should be well shaded.
- Potting mix with charcoal, pine bark, and sphagnum to retain moisture.
- Watering should be done after the potting mix dries (avoid excess water when the stems start to appear).
- Fertilization can be done with chemical or natural fertilizers.
If you want to learn more about orchids, you can read our article on how to care for orchids.
Or, you can also understand what the spots on your orchids’ leaves mean.
Conclusion
Capanemia superflua is a very interesting orchid to cultivate, but at the same time, it is challenging.
So, if you are a beginner in cultivation, this might not be the best option.
Some orchids that are easy to cultivate are:
Now it’s up to you, comment below if you have or want to have this orchid and how you are cultivating it.
Looking forward to your participation.
