Aerangis mystacidii

I am often asked if it is possible to grow orchids mounted on cork in a house and I am delighted to answer the question with this beautiful African orchid species that we have been growing as a house plant for many years and has flowered every year for the past seven years. This year it has three spikes and 45 flowers, each 2.5cm across with curved spurs 5-6cm long.

The plant is growing on a cork mount that we sit in a ceramic dish. We water by spraying the roots every other day days with rain water/feed (I fill my sprayer from the greenhouse tank which has rain water and weak feed in it). We also have plants in pots in our Ikea cabinets where we find the species one of the easier Aerangis species to grow. 

Aerangis mystacidii is found in South Africa and up through southern West Africa, growing in forest along rivers in dryer areas and in evergreen forests in wetter areas. We have seen related species in South Africa flourishing in woodland just north of Durban (see photo above).

The photo shows several species, Mystacidium capense (bottom left), Mystacidium venosum and Microcoelia obovata, growing together on a small branch in semi-evergreen coastal forest.

The natural habitat suggests that the Aerangis mystacidii will enjoy shaded conditions with very good drainage but some water throughout the year. Notice that the plants in the forest have no moss around their roots.

Aerangis are easy orchids to grow on from seedlings and we have seed of Aerangis mystacidii coming on in our lab.