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| Neobenthamia gracilis, pronounced "nee-oh-ben-THAM-ee-ah", is an interesting orchid species from southern Africa, and is the only species in this genus. This plant looks like a tall tropical grass, and it grows as a terrestrial or lithophyte on cliffs and rocky slopes in warm and humid areas. A large mass of 2 cm flowers are produced at the tip of the leafy stems which grow over a meter tall. | ||
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| Neobenthamia gracilis produces numerous long-lasting flowers, any time of year, but predominantly during the fall, winter, and spring. Each flower head may be in bloom for six months or more, and my plant is nearly always in bloom. They have a faint, minty fragrance similar to spearmint. | ||
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The plants are easy to maintain in an intermediate greenhouse if grown in bright light. The plants may require full sun to bloom well, and I place my plants outside in nearly full sun during the summer, and put them in "Vanda light" in the greenhouse during the winter. The plants must be kept moist at all times, and prefer a dense, moisture retentive potting media similar to that for other terrestrial orchids. New growths are produced at the base of the plant in a sympodial manner similar to Epidendrums and Dendrobiums. Keikis are freely produced along the old flower stems which can be removed once it has produced a number of its own roots. Neobenthamia gracilis 'Arps Snowball' was awarded the Certificate of Horticultural Merit (CHM) by the American Orchid Society, in recognition for its superior flowers and vigor for the species. |
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