Nodosa with no fragrance help

[aerides]

Thanks for the support!

[aerides]

So, I did the darkness thing, several nights, and the flowers have had a chance to mature as much as they're going to. Still unimpressed. Nothing "amazing" about this very slight smell (notice, didn't say "fragrance."). From the little I can get, it reminds me of damp charred wood.
I'll look for another cultivar, I guess. This one cost me 50 bucks. Nice plant, floriferous.

---------- Post added at 01:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:31 PM ----------

Oh, it's actually "grandiflora." I've seen this referred to as B. grandiflora and B. nodosa var. grandiflora. Anyway, maybe this one doesn't carry the best fragrance as a rule. Don't know.
Can anyone recommend a cultivar that delivers?
Thanks!

[Gpesci]

I also have a B. nodosa that I've had for nearly 10 years. Every year it blooms around the end of December and it's only fragrant at night, after the lights go out. I've got mine in a SE window for the winter and it seems happy there. It spends spring through autumn out doors. The scent is very nice and you can smell it from across the room.

[Jmoney]

I have 3 nodosa, but have only bloomed 2 of them. 'Susan Fuchs' is fragrant, more light/fruity to my nose. 'Mas Mejor' is also fragrant, much 'spicier' to me and less fruity. only in pitch darkness.

[aerides]

Originally Posted by 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.

So it's been several days. My nodosa has become fragrant. It's nice, somewhat light, when, in the evening, I walk into the room where it lives. But when I stick my nose into the flower, it's acrid. I guess this reminds me of sniffing certain perfumes/colognes for humans. It needs to be tested on the skin, and even then, not directly. Sniffing it out of the bottle doesn't work.

Interesting... But I like the plant now. The flowers have a special charm and it's floriferous.

Wondering if those semi-terete leaves need more than standard cattleya light (??)

[Roberta]

Mine seems happy with filtered sun - not terribly bright. So Cattleya light should be fine. I don't think it particularly fussy.

[aerides]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Mine seems happy with filtered sun - not terribly bright. So Cattleya light should be fine. I don't think it particularly fussy.

Thanks!

---------- Post added at 06:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:44 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Roberta

Mine seems happy with filtered sun - not terribly bright. So Cattleya light should be fine. I don't think it particularly fussy.

Do you have more than cultivar of this species? That would be interesting; having a small collection of nodosa's to experience variations of their fragrances. It seems that they do vary.

[Roberta]

I have two plants that I have had for years (almost from the beginning of my "orchid career"_ , no idea whether they were from the same plant or not - got them from society raffle tables. I do know that they are survivors... I grew them outside for some years, they bloomed but not well. Then I moved, got a GH, put them in and they took off.

[MateoinLosAngeles]

Generally, B. nodosa needs more light than B. nodosa var. grandiflora. But if you get it to bloom then you're fine.

Mine takes in full sun, the leaves get very dark and red, but in nature, it grows on ocean cliffs and even on cacti, so it can take a lot... I grow it next to carnivorous plants.

I imagine it is not native to California because our rainy season is "swapped," we get dry summer and rainy winter, Mexico gets rainy summers. But otherwise, typical southern US temperatures would be good and it can get hotter, make sure it gets enough water in the Summer months.

I don't know what influences the scent, but Cattleyas seem very sensitive to light so darkness might be a factor, also warmth. Might be worth testing placing it on a heat mat to see if it triggers the scent.

[Jmoney]

I give my 3 nodosa more light than standard cattleyas. I think they will grow fine with lower, but will bloom better with higher.