Learn everything about Aliceara Marfitch Howard’s Dream Care to rare this unique orchid hybrid and ensure your plant thrives.
If you are looking for a gorgeous floral display in your home, follow this Aliceara Marfitch Howard’s Dream Care guide to learn about one of the world’s rarest orchids and the special care it requires. It focuses on the special care and maintenance needed to ensure this gorgeous orchid flourishes.
- A Brassia x Cochlioda x Miltonia x Odontoglossum hybrid
- USDA Zones: 11-12
- Features large grape-hued showy flowers
- Attains a height of 2-4 feet
- Ideal for growing as a houseplant
- Blooms twice a year
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Aliceara Marfitch Howard’s Dream Information
Aliceara Marfitch Howard’s Dream Plant, commonly popular as Beallara Marfitch, is a hybrid orchid, a cross between the orchid genera Brassia, Cochlioda, Miltonia, and Odontoglossum. The resulting plant features stalks of large purple orchids sprayed with white dots that measure about 3-4 inches across. Each spike grows about 6-10 flowers depending on the growth factors, making it a sheer beauty to look at!
The Dream Plant is hardy and easy to grow, making it a popular choice for home gardeners. It blooms in spring and fall with an extensive blooming period.
Propagating Aliceara Marfitch Howard’s Dream
Aliceara Marfitch is a sympodial orchid—the kind that can be propagated via rhizome cutting. Get a healthy Horward’s Dream from a nursery to multiply this beauty. Make sure the plant is mature enough to have grown 4-5 pseudobulbs, the minimum you need to carry on healthy and successful propagation.
Take the clump from the pot and separate the bulbs using a sharp, sterilized knife. Make sure each section has 3-4 leafy growth. Pull out the dry layers, if any, and plant the bulbs in sphagnum moss. Keep misting the medium, as these bulbs are epiphytic and need a damp atmosphere to sprout. You can plant them in separate pots once you see the bulbs sprouting.
Pro Tip: Aliceara Marfitch propagation might take quite a lot of time, so we suggest you get a healthy grown plant from the nursery and nurture it at home.
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Ideal Pot Size
The gorgeous orchid grows to a height of 2-4 feet and is a slow grower. Hence, medium size pot of 8-10 inches will do the job pretty well. Keep an eye on the plant base; if you see bulbs peeping out of the medium, you’ll know it’s time to upgrade to a bigger size.
Go for glossy ceramics, pretty baskets, or neutral-toned classy planters that’d do justice to the beauty!
Requirements for Growing Aliceara Marfitch Howard’s Dream
Light
This Orchid requires bright, indirect light during the day, such as near an east or west-facing window for 4 – 6 hours. It should not be placed under direct sunlight, which can burn its gorgeous flowers. Direct morning sunlight for a few hours is tolerable. Diffused light or artificial light sources can also be used.
Soil
Aliceara Orchids have epiphytic bulbs that prefer a fine bark media with some sphagnum for moisture retention and air circulation. Place the plant in a well-drained, moist soil mix containing coconut husk, pine bark, and orchid mix potting soil with a pH range of 5.0 – 8.0. If you find the medium clayey, amend it with a good amount of perlite or coarse gravel.
Water
This plant does not require occasional watering. It should be watered once a week or when the soil feels dry to the touch. Water according to the weather and keep the soil moist. Water well during the growing period.
The trick that goes well is deep watering the plant once a week until it seeps down the drainage holes.
Temperature and Humidity
The ideal temperature for this plant is somewhere between warm and cool. During the day, it will grow well at 68 – 75 degrees Fahrenheit/ 20 – 24 degrees Celsius and around an occasional 55 – 60 degrees Fahrenheit/13 – 16 degrees Celsius at night. It can tolerate a bit of extreme temperature but is not tolerant of cold, so keep it away from any cold drafts.
The ideal humidity level for this plant is about 55 – 75%. Pebble trays, humidifiers, or misting can be used to maintain the desired humidity levels. Additionally, it is tolerant of irregular humidity levels.
Aliceara Marfitch Howard’s Dream Care
Fertilizer
Fertilize the plant frequently at low doses during their growing season. Switching to bloom-promoting fertilizer in mid-summer can be helpful for developing flower spikes. Go for slow-release, granular plant food formulated for Orchids and follow the dosage as per the label.
Pests and Diseases
Fusarium wilt can be a threat to your Howard’s Dream. Other orchid ailments include black rot, petal blight, and leaf spots. Use a fungicide to deal with these unpleasant conditions. Organic neem oil spray will also help.
Keep the medium well-aerated and refrain from overwatering to avoid such infestations. Also, remember to sterilize the pruners and remove any dead, diseased leaves as soon as you spot them.
Very insightful and helpful