Nodosa with no fragrance help

[camille1585]

I remember reading something on the forum long ago (as in more than a decade ago) that aside from genetics, some of the night scented orchids are extremely sensitive to light. I don't remember if the plant in question was a a B. nodosa, but the street light shining into the living room was enough to make it scentless.

Also sniffing it a different moments is worthwhile. My Leptotes bicolor is only fragrant for a couple hours just before dawn. As soon as it's no longer completely dark outside, the fragrance disappears.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I remember reading something on the forum long ago (as in more than a decade ago) that aside from genetics, some of the night scented orchids are extremely sensitive to light. I don't remember if the plant in question was a a B. nodosa, but the street light shining into the living room was enough to make it scentless.

Yep, nodosa's best scent is only in complete darkness.

Cattleya loddigesii isn't a super strong fragrance, but it's strongest with bright sunshine and warmth.

[Louis_W]

Stephen, in your experience, how does the strength of nodosa stack up against tigrina?

[Leafmite]

It is true about darkness. I knew someone who had the exact clone of my fragrant one that never smelled it. I discovered they always left a light on in the room.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Louis_W

Stephen, in your experience, how does the strength of nodosa stack up against tigrina?

Similar potency but very different scents! Both amazing.

[Jeff214]

My brassavola grandiflora (nodosa var grandiflora) only has a strong fragrance in complete darkness. Strong enough for it to be detected across the room. I can only smell them faintly, upclose if the light is on at night.

The difference was even more pronounced with Epidendrum parkinsonianum. I couldn't detect any fragrance until Roberta mentioned that it had to be in darkness. It was quite strong as well once the light was off for a bit.

[Mugsie]

I have a nodosa that has to be 20+ years old. It's huge and lives in a basket inside during the winter, then outside in the summer. Every year it blooms, 100s of flowers and every year it has been super fragrant, except this year. This year I got nutten! Zero fragrance. I too have no idea why, but I love her just the same.

[prezetter]

Paph. delenatii that are fragrant smell just like roses. I used to have an alba that smelled like that, though it was faint, it was there and very distinguishable.

[aerides]

I just bought my first nodosa (var.grandiflora). Three flowers on one one spike are open. The oldest one has been open just under a week. Not detecting any fragrance at night, but have been careless about beside lamp and ambient light coming in from other rooms.
I've noticed some other orchids that take a few days to emit fragrance, and sometimes longer for the fragrance to mature into its final character.
For this one, I guess I'll transfer it to a dark room as soon as it gets dark, close the door, and check it when I wake up on the middle of the night!

[Roberta]

It really does need to be quite dark for the fragrance to emerge - I have mine outside (for the summer) and there's little or nothing until the last twilight fades. Then the fragrance becomes quite strong.