Coryanthes macrantha x self

[OrchidBro]

Another new orchid for me this year that looks like it is going to bloom. I can't wait for this one to bloom since the flower(s) are so unusual and alien looking.

[DirtyCoconuts]

new growths and spikes are so exciting!!

[OrchidBro]

Yes, this one gave me 4 new growths after I purchased it. All the pbulbs with leaves are new and all the leafless pbulbs are old. I am wondering if there are other spikes buried within the moss trying to escape.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by OrchidBro

the flower(s) are so unusual and alien looking.

It really could be an alien.

[Roberta]

I don't grow Coryanthes, but Stanhopeas, Lycastes and Coelogynes often produce growths or spikes from lower parts of the plant below the medium, that I see trying to get out. When I do see one of these, I get out my diagonal cutters and clip away the part of the basket that is interfering with the growth or spike. Plastic baskets are cheap... since I can't predict ahead of time what the plant is gong to want to do, I just go with the flow.

[OrchidBro]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I don't grow Coryanthes, but Stanhopeas, Lycastes and Coelogynes often produce growths or spikes from lower parts of the plant below the medium, that I see trying to get out. When I do see one of these, I get out my diagonal cutters and clip away the part of the basket that is interfering with the growth or spike. Plastic baskets are cheap... since I can't predict ahead of time what the plant is gong to want to do, I just go with the flow.

Yes, I have read these like to spike downward into the medium like Stanhopeas and the others mentioned. I have a Stanhopea in a net pot as well that I have cut parts of it to allow the spikes to escape. The spike for this Coryanthes I saw starting a few weeks ago and have been monitoring it since. However, since there are other new pbulbs this year is why I was wondering if there were other spikes hiding further down in the medium that I can't see. I don't want to go digging in the medium to hunt for and accidentally damage them so I have been looking for signs on the sides and bottom to see if any more spikes are trying to poke through.

[OrchidBro]

Almost there! Looks like a giant boil or cyst that needs to be popped.

[SouthPark]

Ridley Scott would be proud of this one.

[OrchidBro]

SouthPark - You get bonuses points for mentioning Ridley Scott and I agree, if he ever created a flower it would look like one of these.

And it is open and I couldn't be more ecstatic! Well, almost more ecstatic. I wanted to take some time lapsed photos of the opening since it apparently goes from closed to open in about 3 minutes but missed it, oh well.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Wow. That’s incredible.

Truly mind blowing!