Sophronitis

Sophronitis mixta

Sophronitis mixta

Sophronitis sincorana

Sophronitis sincorana

Pronunciation: sof-roe-NYE-tis

Scientific Classification

  • Family: Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily: Epidendroideae
  • Tribe: Epidendreae
  • Subtribe: Laeliinae
  • Alliance: Cattleya
  • Genus: Sophronitis, Lindley 1828

General Characteristics

  • epiphytic or lithophytic
  • short, ovoid, often densely clustered, pseudobulbs
  • single, rarely two, apical, erect, fleshy, gray green leaves growing from the pseudobulb
  • inflorescence with one to eight flowers

Sophronitis, abbreviated Soph in horticultural trade, is a fairly small genus of orchid, found growing in the damp montane forest of eastern Brazil, Paraguay and NE Argentina. Currently, 65 species are recognized.

In January 2008, the International Orchid Committee voted to reduce Sophronitis to synonymy under Cattleya. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has already moved a hybrid of Sophronitis esalqueana into the genus Cattleya.

Culture

  • Temperature: Cool to intermediate (except Sophronitis cernua, which is a warm grower).
  • Light: Shady to bright, medium to very good air movement.
  • Water & Humidity: For Sophronitis cernua and S. brevipedunculata, seasonally high during growth season and low during the rest period.
  • Fertilizer:Balanced fertilizer during growth season, weekly. Half to a quarter concentration during rest period.
  • Potting: Sophronitis can grow very well on slabs, as they benefit from the occasional drying out, they grow well in small pots also, if watering is less frequent. Certain species, such as Sophronitis coccinea and related species need pots, as they don’t like to ever dry out completely. As for potting medium, these plants seem to really enjoy small pots with sphagnum moss. Never allow them to dry out completely, or if so, for very short periods and occasionally.

About

Welcome to Jardim Therapy my blog about orchids and Brazil. Here you will find a compilation of useful references, and some tip & tricks, along with my own personal experience. I must admit I am absolutely enamored with orchids, and I want to help all those I can who are interested in learning about these unique plants.

As guests of Jardim Therapy you are welcome to browse the home page, post comments, and access the archives. Enjoy!

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