Renanthera monachica also called as Spanish Dancing Girl Renanthera, is a species of the genus Renanthera. This species was described by Oakes Ames in 1915.
Renanthera monachica is native to the Philippines. They occurs in the provinces of Quezon, Rizal and Zambales on the island of Luzon and in the province of Surigao on the island of Mindanao. It usually grows as an epiphyte on trees found in open, grassy areas at an altitude of up to 500 meters above sea level.
It is a medium sized, hot growing epiphyte, which reaching 30-60 cm in height.
Renanthera monachica blooms on a 45 cm long stem with 6 to 30, non-fragrant, long-lasting flowers. They start to bloom in in the late winter and spring. The flowers have a diameter of up to 4 cm.
Light:
Renanthera monachica needs a light level of 40000-50000 lux. Very clear position, on the verge of scalding the leaves, however, the plants should not be exposed to the direct effect of the midday sun. Strong air movement should be ensured all the time.
Temperature:
It is a thermophilic plant. In summer, the average day temperature is 29-31°C, at night 22°C, which gives a daily difference of 7-9°C. In the spring the average day temperature is 31-32°C, night 20-22°C, with a daily amplitude of 10-11°C. In winter the average day temperature is 28-29°C, at night around 19°C, which gives a daily difference of 9-11°C.
Humidity:
Spanish Dancing Girl Renanthera needs the humidity of 80-85% in summer and autumn, falling to around 70% in 3 months at the end of the dry season in late winter and early spring.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Renanthera monachica should grow in a hanging pot or wooden box filled with airy, quickly drying substrate consisting of large pieces of charcoal, wine corks and large pieces of cork or bark. Some plants are placed only in the amount of substrate that allows them to rooting. Roots should be allowed to grow, sag, and not be cut to give the plant an orderly appearance. Even slight cutting of the roots (beyond the necessary minimum resulting from their drying or damage due to fumigation processes) reverses the plant in development for several years. The continuous and strong air movement around the roots is very important for proper growth.
Watering:
From late spring to autumn rainfall is abundant, but in winter there is a 3-4-month period of drought. During active growth the substrate of cultivated plants should be constantly moist, but in the late autumn the watering should be gradually reduced.
Fertilizer:
The plants should be fertilized every week 1/4-1/2 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids. A fertilizer with a high nitrogen content is beneficial from spring to mid-summer, and a fertilizer richer in phosphorus should be used in late summer and autumn.
Rest period:
In winter, watering should be significantly reduced. Renanthera monachica should dry out between subsequent waterings, but they should not be deprived of water for longer. A dry resting period is not the most important element in this type of farming, because there is no clear dry season in their natural habitats. In winter, when watering plants is limited, fertilization should also be reduced.