Growing Guides from Santa Barbara Orchid Estate

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Schomburgkias

The Schomburgkias are a New World genus of the Cattleya Alliance, classified into two subgenera: Myrmecophila, which means ant-loving (in nature, ants are often found living inside of their hollow “cow horn” pseudobulbs), and Schomburgkia, the solid bulb types. Both groups are characterized by various degrees of tall, thin bulbs with long (two to ten-foot) flower spikes with clusters of any number up to as many as fifty flowers toward the end. Flowers occur in a range of colors from lavender- purples to white to yellow-browns and salmon-oranges; sepals and petals are typically undulated. Schomburgkia species have also been hybridized with many of the related genera of the Cattleya alliance, contributing great size and distinction.

Temperature

Schomburgkias are some of the largest growing orchids, with the tallest inflorescences, demanding ample space and high light in a greenhouse or garden setting. Here at SBOE, any that can withstand our 10-year low(minimum winter temperature of 27F for a few hours) are grown outside. Schom. superbiens, Schom. sawyeri and many of the hybrids are known to withstand a few degrees of frost and up to 100F, thus thrive in the temperate 40’s to 80’s typical of our subtropical climate. Most species, however, need warm, bright cattleya conditions and cannot take the winter outdoors. Our indoor greenhouse temperatures average in the 60’s and 70’s with extremes of 50 to 100F.

Fertilizer

We recommend a balanced formula such as Dyna Gro 7-9-5 or 7-7-7 mixed regularly with waterings.

Potting

Schomburgkias bloom best as large, specimen plants; most types flourish either mounted on cork slabs or potted in a medium to coarse, well-draining medium; many thrive in rock. In most cases, after blooming-size divisions are established, we do little to repot them; rather, we leave them to grow over the edges of their pots or hanging baskets, often setting them into successively larger, empty pots to provide support, without additional medium. The roots take to the air-space between pots, without worry of deterioration due to over-potting or old mix. Also, plants naturalize beautifully on greenhouse structures and trees outdoors.

SBOE@SBORCHID.COM ~ (800) 553-3387
1250 Orchid Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93111 ~ (805) 967-1284 ~ FAX: (805) 683-3405

© 2024 Santa Barbara Orchid Estate
All images and text herein these pages are copyright protected. Personal use of them and links to our page are permitted, but none should be reproduced in other websites or in any other forms of publication without our permission.

NOTE ON PICTURES:
Although we try to represent the flower color as accurately as possible, due the inconsistant nature of computer monitors, and the various difficulties of digital photography, the colors represented on our website are not always exact. Please consider these pictures approximations, and give us a call if you would like a verbal description of the flower.

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