Cochlioda

Cochlioda is a genus of epiphytic or lithophytic orchids. This genus contains only eight species of orchids, all from the Andes of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador.

Description

The Cochlioda can be epiphytes or lithophytes in cloud forests between 2,000 and 3,500 meters above sea level. It can show unifoliate and bifoliate pseudobulbs with a single internode. They do not have a rest period.
It has distichus leaf-like sheaths. The basal inflorescence of a length of 50 cm is produced from the axis of the pods and produces flowers without a spur. It has two hard pollinia attached to a stipe connected to the viscidium. Flowering is abundant and fragrant, lasting a month. The column has no foot. The diameter of the flowers from 5 to 7 cm

The Cochlioda can hybridize with nearby genera giving rise to intergeneric species such as Beallara, Burregeara and Vuylstekeara.

Distribution and habitat

The genus Cochlioda is made up of species from cold areas of the cloud forests of mountainous areas in the Andes of Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador.

Cultivation

These species should be grown in a cold environment.

• Light

Woodland plants like bright light but can't stand full sun.

• Temperature

These are the conditions of a cold Sierra. Maximum temperature during the day of 19 °C and at night of 15 °C.
To ensure good flowering, a temperature variation of 5 °C from day to night is necessary.

• Irrigation

Ambient humidity of 60 to 70% minimum, in addition to good ventilation. They like cold sprays in bloom.
These plants require a certain humidity, during their development the substrate should not be allowed to dry out completely. The Cochlioda do not know any period of rest, in the winter the waterings must be more spaced.

• Bonds

Orchids are not very demanding when it comes to fertilization. In spring they can be supplied with a standard formula of 20-20-20 corresponding to Nitrogen, Phosphate and Potassium to stimulate the new generation of leaves. A subscriber must be followed by 2 waterings with clear water. An excess of fertilizer can necrosis the roots.

• Clarification

Because the plant has numerous pseudobulbs, it must be thinned in addition to getting new plants, to keep it vigorous.
Thinning should be done every year at the end of September and be preceded by cleaning the plant, removing the dead roots (brownish and vain), the live ones are white and green at the ends. To stimulate the activity of the roots, a rather small pot should be placed. The substrate grain used should be a mixture of pine bark, charcoal and expanded polystyrene.

Etymology

The name Cochlioda refers to the shell-shaped callus on the lip.

Cochlioda species

• Cochlioda beyrodtiana Schltr. (1919)
• Cochlioda chasei D.E.Benn. " Christenson (1994)
• Cochlioda densiflora Lindl. (1853)
• Cochlioda miniata L.Linden (1896)
• Mixed housing Dalström " Sönnemark (2001)
• Cochlioda noezliana (Mast.) Rolfe (1890)
• Cochlioda rosea (Lindl.) Benth. (1883)
• Cochlioda vulcanica (Rchb.f.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex H.J.Veitch (1893)

Cochlioda intergeneral hybrids

• Barbosaara: Bbra (Cochlioda x Gomesa x Odontoglossum x Oncidium)
• Baldwinara: Bdwna (Aspasia x Cochlioda x Odontoglossum x Oncidium)
• Beallara: Bllra (Brassia x Cochlioda x Miltonia x Odontoglossum)
• Blackara: Blkr (Aspasia x Cochlioda x Miltonia x Odontoglossum)
• Burregeara: Burr (Odontoglossum x Cochlioda x Oncidium x Miltonia)
• Charlesworthara: Cha (Cochlioda x Miltonia x Oncidium)
• Doncollinara: Dclna (Cochlioda x Odontoglossum x Rodriguezia)
• Goodaleara: Gdlra (Brassia x Cochlioda x Miltonia x Odontoglossum x Oncidium)
• Lagerara: Lgra (Aspasia x Cochlioda x Odontoglossum)
• Liebmanara: Lieb (Aspasia x Cochlioda x Oncidium)
• Miltonioda: Mtda (Cochlioda x Miltonia)
• Odontioda: Oda (Cochlioda x Odontoglossum)
• Oncidioda: Oncda (Cochlioda x Oncidium)
• Sanderara: Sand (Brassia x Cochlioda x Odontoglossum)
• Schafferara: Schfa (Aspasia x Brassia x Cochlioda x Miltonia x Odontoglossum)
• Vuylstekeara: Vuyl (Odontoglossum x Cochlioda x Miltonia)
• Wilsonara: Wils (Cochlioda x Odontoglossum x Oncidium)