Peristeria Elata (Dove Orchid) Profile: Info & Care Guide

Dec 14 2022 Written by Maggie

Peristeria Elata, commonly called Holy Ghost orchid, dove orchid, or flower of the Holy Spirit, is a species of orchid found from Central America to Ecuador and Venezuela. The population is distributed from Central America to Ecuador and Venezuela. Peristeria Elata grows well in the obvious dry and rainy climate of Panama.

Peristeria Elata can grow best in warm to hot climates. It can only grow well in temperatures between 65 and 70 °F. Dove orchids can be planted in specialized orchid-mix in warm, moist, and humid environments. Read more for detailed information on taking good care of Peristeria Elata (Dove Orchid), including Peristeria Elata Care, plant pests and problems, as well as Peristeria Elata propagation methods.

Peristeria Elata Picture

Peristeria Elata Characteristics

Peristeria Elata (Dove Orchid) is one of the large terrestrial orchids that grow in soils rich in organic matter. Its populations are distributed from Central America to Ecuador and Venezuela. peristeria Elata grows well in the dry and rainy climate of Panama, but it takes 3 to 5 years from seedling to full-grown flowers.

Peristeria Elata Bloom from autumn to spring of each year, pedicels from the base of the stem, can be 1.5 to 2 meters long, its inflorescences are spiral infinite, flowers from the bottom to the top, the color of the flowers are white, with a light fragrance. Its name derives from the fact that when it blossoms, the stamen inside the flower sticks so closely to the labellum that it looks like a dove sitting in it.

Botanical/Scientific Name	Peristeria Elata
Common Name	Holy Ghost Orchid, Dove Orchid, or Flower of the Holy Spirit Orchid
Plant Type	Orchid
Light Requirements	Part shade light
Soil Requirements	Well-drained soil
Bloom Time	From Autumn to Spring
Flower Color	white flowers with a light fragrance

Peristeria Elata Distribution

Peristeria Elata Orchid is from Central America to Ecuador and Venezuela. The population of peristeria elata ranges from Central America to Ecuador and Venezuela and grows well in Panama's distinct dry and rainy weather.

Peristeria Elata Care

Temperature

To successfully care for Peristeria Elata, it is necessary to ensure a good environment that it can adapt to. The required temperature is 2L ℃ ~ 33℃ in summer and 5℃ ~ 7℃ in winter. When the ambient temperature exceeds 35℃, it should be particularly noted that when the temperature is below 10℃ in winter, leaves begin to fall off gradually, that is, falling leaves enter the dormant period.

Growing conditions for dove orchids range from mild to warm. 60°F to 70°F (15°C to 21°C) is the ideal temperature range for them all year long. The plant enters a dormant state when wintertime temperatures fall below 50°F (10°C). Do not place your plant in a draft or right in front of a heater or air conditioner.

Soil

In general-purpose potting soil, dove orchids cannot be grown. They need a special, rich humus mixture that is ideally composed of sphagnum moss, peat, and composted leaves. To improve an orchid mix you can buy, or add coco coir or rock wool cubes to improve the growing conditions.

You cannot use an all-purpose potting mixture when planting orchids. Your plant won't survive because this type of soil is incorrect.

Dove orchids need very specific types of soil. Ask your local nursery for orchid-specific soil.

Sphagnum moss, peat, and composted leaves can all be used to create your own custom blend.

Dove orchids benefit greatly from the nutrients that decomposed leaves, also known as leaf mold, provide. Its natural habitat, where it thrives in humus-rich soil and decomposing plant matter, is very similar to this soil.

It is also very beneficial for Dove orchids to include rockwool in your mixture. Balsamic rock that has been heated to a liquid state is spun into fine fibers to create rockwool.

It is cut into tiny cubes that you can mix with your soil. Rockwool improves aeration and water retention, which are important for orchids.

Clay pebbles, perlite, vermiculite, and coco coir are alternatives to rockwool.

These elements together will create the ideal growing environment for Dove orchids.

The mixture needs to be extremely well-draining so that water doesn't build up at the bottom of your pot. You can place small pebbles or broken terracotta shards at the base to aid with water drainage.

Lighting Requirements

Peristeria Elata prefers a semi-overcast environment. Greenhouse potted flower production, appropriate half shade and half-light environment, sunlight is too strong, will cause leaf burns or slow growth. But the shade is too large, the plant becomes weak and elongated and does not flower easily. Therefore, spring, summer, autumn three seasons can accept the morning and evening light, around noon with 50% ~ 60% of the shading net can be shaded.

Filtered light is necessary for the growth of dove orchids. In direct sunlight, they struggle. Keep yours in a location with some shade and light. Avoid placing it close to a window because the direct sunlight will harm the plant. Having the proper amount of shade is essential because too much shade causes fewer flowers to bloom.

Watering

Moist conditions are preferred by Peristeria Elata and generally grow well in areas with abundant moisture and high air humidity. Therefore, attention should be paid to observing every day to keep the planting material slightly wet. But not too wet or watery, which can cause rot in the roots of the plant. Spray the plants in summer and fall when they are hot and dry to ensure humidity in the air.

To keep the plant moist, mist spray it frequently and water it once a week. If at all possible, use rainwater; otherwise, use cooled, boiled water. Keep an eye out for waterlogging of the soil. Dove orchids need to be watered frequently while they are growing. Watering can be decreased once the pseudobulbs have reached full development.

Natural conditions are very moist for dove orchid growth. To maintain your plant's happiness, you must recreate the same conditions.

Plan to water it once a week by thoroughly soaking it. The soil needs to have good air and water drainage. If water accumulates at the base of your pot, the roots will rot and your plant will die.

The ideal growing medium for orchids is a mixture of peat, sphagnum moss, and bark. Although it retains moisture, it allows water to drain out quickly.

Humidity

A humidity level of over 50% is necessary for dove orchid growth. Around 70% of the air should be humid. You must create the ideal greenhouse-like environment because this is higher than a typical home. The humidity level around the plant can be raised during the growing season by mist-spraying.

Dove orchids thrive in high cloud forests that are extremely humid and wet. For them to thrive, there must be moisture.

The humidity in a typical home ranges from 40 to 50 percent. This might be too low for a dove orchid.

Maintaining your plant in a specific location where you can use a small indoor humidifier to increase the humidity will be necessary. Around 70 to 80 percent humidity is considered ideal.

It is simple to accomplish this if you are fortunate enough to have a greenhouse. If not, you might want to think about placing your orchid in a tiny container that resembles a miniature greenhouse.

The humidity in the area of your home where people sit and unwind is one thing you do not want to increase. High humidity can promote the growth of mold and bacteria, which is harmful to people.

You can keep the air humid by scattering small bowls of water around your pot. Maintaining your plant's moisture through mist spraying is essential and simple. Try to avoid spraying directly onto the flowers.

Fertilizer

In the germination of new plants and new leaves, a vigorous period should cooperate with watering to plant fertilization. Pay attention to fertilization should not be too much, too thick fertilizer is easy to Peristeria Elata root death. It is better to apply a more diluted concentration than the prescribed amount.

Generally, every half a month apply 1-time thin cake fertilizer water or every two months along the edge of the basin around the application of a small amount of slow-release granular compost fertilizer. If applied to chemical fertilizer, the fertilizer 2000 times liquid that is 30:10:10 with nitrogen phosphorus potassium proportion had better, unfavorable too low.

Peristeria Elata Propagation

Propagate Peristeria Elata from Division

More in the spring before the new Peristeria Elata bud germination, the growth of the dense cluster of false bulbs dugout, with 1 ball or 2 ~ 3 ballpoints planted in the new pot, the year can blossom. A strong old bulb that has been growing for many years will shed its leaves from the top of the stem and then sprout new buds. The tip of the leaf can also be cut at the top of the pseudobulb to stimulate the rapid initiation of multiple new buds. When the new buds grow a certain root system, they can be separated from the top and planted in the pot. After 2 to 3 years of cultivation, they can blossom.

How to Propagate Peristeria Elata from Cutting

In addition to the method of dividing plants, Peristeria Elata (dove orchid flower) also can be used for cutting propagation of pedunculus. It can be in flower after the pedicel on the residual flowers even pedicel cut off, the pedicel from the base of the cut, and the pedicel branches and buds on the bracts carefully removed, revealing the buds. The pedicels cut off were buried in the ceramsite or sand bed with the temperature maintained at 25℃ ~ 30℃ and the humidity above 75%. After a few months, the Peristeria Elata internodes will grow small shoots with roots, which can be cut off and planted separately.

When to Plant Your Dove Orchid

The best time to plant dove orchid pseudobulbs is in the spring when the weather starts to warm up. Make sure the temperature inside your home stays between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (15 and 21 degrees Celsius). Keep the humidity at or above 70% and water thoroughly.

As the growing season begins in the spring, this is the ideal time to plant your dove orchid plant's pseudobulbs.

Make certain that the temperature, humidity, and lighting inside are all ideal. High humidity, indirect light, and warmer temperatures are all favorable to this plant.

How to Plant Your Dove Orchid

Dove orchids require draining pots, so pick a container with drainage holes on the base and sides. Add fertilizer after adding an orchid mix to the pot and allowing it to drain well. Place the bulb gently into the ground about 1 cm (0.5 inches) deep. Place it in an area with dappled light and moderate humidity.

Early spring is the ideal time to plant. Be patient because new growth in dove orchids can take up to a few weeks to appear.

If you're fortunate enough to own a greenhouse, you can provide your dove orchid with the ideal environment. If not, you might think about constructing a tiny indoor container that resembles a greenhouse.

Select a terracotta pot with drainage holes at the base and along the sides.

In order for the water to drain out more quickly, this is essential for orchids. If the holes result in a problem with water leakage, you can stand your orchid pot in a larger decorative container.

To prevent the drainage holes from becoming blocked, place small pebbles or gravel at the base.

Add an orchid mixture to your pot. To summarize, sphagnum moss, peat, and fir bark should be included in this mixture. Use only specialty potting soil instead because your plant won't thrive in this kind of sand.

Water the area well, let the container drain, and then add a diluted 20-20-20 fertilizer dose.

Make a 0.5-inch (1-cm)-deep hole in the ground, and insert the fauxbulb there. Check to make sure the pointed side is facing up. It is not necessary to cover the entire bulb; it can stick out of the ground.

Place the bulb deep enough so that it can support itself. For added support, sprinkle additional orchid-mix around the base.

For the first few weeks, make sure to water well and feed once a week. As the plant starts to grow, you can move the new bulbs to a slightly brighter location and gradually increase the lighting.

Dove Orchids Problems

How to Fix Dove Orchids Roots Rot

This indicates that the water in your pot is not draining properly. The damp environment is to the plant's advantage, but the roots shouldn't become waterlogged. Consider replanting it in a container with sufficient drainage holes on the sides and base.

Why My Orchids Do Not Flower

There could be a number of causes for this, most of which are connected to the growing circumstances. Make sure your soil is the appropriate orchid mix. Warm temperatures are required, and the plant cannot be left exposed to direct sunlight. You need a humidity level of at least 70%.

Bulbs Are Shriveling Up

This is a symptom of your soil having insufficient moisture. Give the plant plenty of moisture and warmth. Although not flooded, the soil must be moist.

Leaves Turn Brown and Look Burnt

There is too much direct sunlight hitting your plant. Although they like light, dove orchids must not be exposed to direct sunlight. Ideal lighting is dappled indirect light.

Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Dove Orchids

Are Dove Orchids Hard to Grow?

The hardest plants to grow are dove orchids. They are easier to grow than some other rare orchid species, though. You should be able to grow a dove orchid at home if you can create the ideal environment.

Can I Grow Dove Orchids Outdoors?

High-cloud rainforests with decomposing soil and humus-rich conditions are the dove orchids' natural habitats. You'll have a hard time getting these conditions just right in your outdoor garden.

The best environment for growing dove orchids is a greenhouse. If the right temperature, light, and humidity conditions are created, they can also be grown indoors.

Is the Dove Orchid An Endangered Species?

Unfortunately, this flower is overpicked in its native habitat, which has led to its inclusion in the list of globally endangered species. Both religious and medicinal uses exist for the lovely flowers. The quantity of naturally occurring flowering plants has gradually decreased as a result of this.