Name: Lepanthes calodictyon × Lepanthes volador (registered as Lepanthes Nectar)
Etymology: Nettare is the Italian word for nectar, alluding to the hybrid’s particular appeal. The names of the parent species offer further clues about the characteristics to expect:
calodictyon = beautiful net (combines the Greek words
kalos and
diktyon and refers to the leaf venation);
volador = the flyer (Spanish, referring to the flower’s almost hovering, aerodynamic shape).
Origin / Distribution: Cultivar (primary hybrid). The parent species are native to the neotropical cloud forests of South America, primarily Colombia and Ecuador.
Location / Habitat: Epiphytic. After deflasking, requires intermediate to warm-intermediate conditions, shaded to partially shaded light (direct sun must be avoided), consistently high humidity of 75–85%, and continuous, gentle air circulation.
Cultivation note for sale (Orchipack): The young plants are in a sterile, sealed jar on an agar-based growing medium. The system is completely self-sufficient as long as the container remains sealed. Once the plants have reached an adequate size, carefully remove them, rinse the agar residue thoroughly with lukewarm water, and prick out the seedlings into very fine pine bark or live sphagnum moss.
In vitro culture: You will receive a flask containing 4 young plants. The plants are generally already large enough to be deflasked. After opening, very carefully remove all the growing medium from the extremely fine roots using lukewarm water. Plant the young plants individually in fine, loose sphagnum or a very fine, airy, moisture-retentive substrate. Provide very high humidity, gentle air movement, and bright, sheltered light during the first few weeks. Never allow them to dry out completely, and gradually acclimatize the plants to the normal growing conditions for the species.
