Prosthechea vitellina

Orange, vibrant and endangered

A cool cloud forest endemic

Prosthechea vitellina is an endangered orchid of central America, It inhabits the cloud forests of Mexico, Guatemala and Nicaragua. This orchid requires very humid climate with low night temperatures and a moderately dry season in winter and the beginning of spring. In cultivation, many people struggle providing low enough temperatures and high enough humidity. The vibrant flowers are easy to spot from a distance and make this orchid an easy prey to orchid collectors who will most likely sell it far away from its habitat.

Prosthechea vitellina at the orchidarc reserve

Prosthechea vitellina is perhaps the most abundant medium sized orchid species at our reserve. In the 4 hectares that we have dedicated to habitat conservation we estimate 200 mature speciments of P. vitellina which have flowered every year with good reproductive rates. There have been studies exposing P. vitellina to artificially induced water stress which can be used to germinate plants that are more tolerant to climate change. Setting up an orchid propagation laboratory with the appropriate tools and machines is very costly but it is also our goal and we need your help.

Prosthechea vitellina plants that have fallen from their trees have shown good survival rates for conservation circa-situ in our orchidarium when they are rescued within one week from their fall. Unfortunately, it is often the biggest and most mature plants that fall.