Orchids have great relevance and admiration thanks to their flowers’ particularity. In addition, they have an ecological interaction with pollinators and beneficial fungi in the soil where they form symbiotic processes. They are considered the most evolved beings of the plant kingdom.
Monja Blanca reproduction is not easy, says Dr. Fredy Archila, agronomist, and botanist. This is because to germinate the seeds, an alliance of a beneficial fungus in symbiosis with the root of a tree is required.
The reproduction process of the Monja Blanca begins with the collection of seeds of its species. These are cultivated using flasks in controlled environments outside of a living organism. Later they are placed in incubators to ensure adequate humidity and temperature for fertilization.
After the adaptation time has elapsed, the orchids are removed from the jars and placed in collective pots. Before planting in the pots, they are disinfected by applying Horcalsa lime slurry to eliminate harmful agents, mainly bacteria that affect orchids’ proper development and adaptation.
Once the disinfection process is completed, the plants are planted and moved to greenhouses. There Horcalsa lime is again applied to the substrate to prevent the incidence of harmful insects, worms, and fungi. In addition, lime serves to balance the pH of the medium, and improve the texture and structure of the soil, allowing for better water retention and oxygenation of the substrate. It also provides calcium, one of the most important nutrients for plants.
During the time orchids develop and adapt in the greenhouse, lime applications on the substrate. In addition, foliar applications are made by spraying with a diluted solution based on Horcalsa lime, to protect foliage and stems from attack by sucking insects, worms, or microscopic agents that move in the air.
In this way, Cal Horcalsa strongly supports the conservation of the national flower in the cloud forests of the Verapaces, the territory where it originates in Guatemala.
By: Ing. Emmanuel Montúfar
In February 1934, the central government issued the Governmental Agreement by means of which the White Nun was designated National Flower.
