Cycnoches Growing Guide

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by mopwr

It's a complex Cycnoches, so far it's growing really well. There's a handful of subtle differences, but the thing I noticed most so far is that it's leaves just seem to be a bit more delicate and lighter in color than all of the other seedling catasetum types I'm growing this year.

These are all my catasetum types this year:
Fredclarkeara After Dark 'SVO Black Pearl'
Clowesia Jumbo Grace 'Alba'
Cycnodes Wine Delight
Catasetum Memoria Dorothy Wells
Cycnoches (Richard Brandon 'SVO II AM/AOS' 5887x Dark Swan 'Black Swan' 4661)
Mormodes (Ignea 'Orange Blaze' 4588 x Aftermath 'Nuclear Fallout' AM/AOS 5888)

They all get the same (high) light, but the Cycnoches is more of a lime green color compared to other plants. The Fdks, even under blasting light, are about 4 shades darker in color. The other thing I've noticed, is relative to the other plants, the cycnoches probably put on size a little bit faster than anyone else in the group.

Yep, those Cycnoches want to grow fast!! And I'm pretty sure the Fdks can survive a nuclear blast!

I believe I got the same Mormodes as you from Fred's offering a few months ago. I'm really excited to see those when they bloom!

---------- Post added at 11:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:47 AM ----------

Originally Posted by SG in CR

Here's some pictures the first is the Cycnoches warscewiczii that bloomed last year. The new p-bulb is significantly smaller than the previous one. Hopefully it does better next year.
Attachment 153845
And this is the smaller one that I think might bloom next year.
Attachment 153846

So cool you get to have wild Cycnoches at your place! I'm very jealous.

It looks like the warsc got less rainfall this year than last. Is that about right? Or perhaps the vegetation nearby was removed causing more sunlight to shine through and drying out the roots a bit faster?

I'll put money on that smaller one blooming this year.

[My Green Pets]

So cool to see them growing on trees outdoors.

[SG in CR]

Originally Posted by isurus79

So cool you get to have wild Cycnoches at your place! I'm very jealous.

It looks like the warsc got less rainfall this year than last. Is that about right? Or perhaps the vegetation nearby was removed causing more sunlight to shine through and drying out the roots a bit faster?

I'll put money on that smaller one blooming this year.

Actually we had a really mild dry season this year. We had rain during the normally dry months of March and April. I'm pretty sure it was my fault. I cut the p-bulb from 2019 off in hopes of creating a division. Sadly the old p-bulb just kind of did nothing and withered away over the course of about 6 months. The remaining plant seemed unaffected but I'm guessing that I'm to blame for the smaller growth this year. It is in higher light than it used to be because a branch right above it died but seems to be doing fine light-wise.
Hopefully you're right about the smaller one, I'm curious to see what it is.

Edit
By the way what is the accepted wisdom about removing the dried leaf sheaths from the p-bulb? I do it thinking it will give the plant a bit more photosynthetic area. I figure it offers some protection from pests but I take care of that if I see something is eating at it. I've done it for the last few years on my other Catesetinae to no ill effect, at least as far as I can tell.

[mopwr]

Regarding cycnoches, they are definitely a bit of a different breed. The one I have is at a point where it needs water everyday - the others are at a 2-3 days stage still. Regarding the height on these plants, they definitely go for the "taller and skinnier" route. I got this seedling with one tiny little pseudobulb that might be about 2" tall and the new growth had just started - now, two months later, the new growth is almost 14" tall and is pushing double spikes at the top (might be one lower as well, I see another bump at the base of one of the leaves - too early to tell if it'll push into a spike though).

[isurus79]

Looks like spikes to me! I have a cooperi that is actively pushing spikes, so the timing is right.

[mopwr]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Looks like spikes to me! I have a cooperi that is actively pushing spikes, so the timing is right.

Yep, just took another look today and they're definitely spikes - they're just starting to push out a bit more now. Additional to that, I'm seeing two rounded bumps forming at the bottom two leaf joints. The bumps are not "pointy" enough to be roots or a new growth in my opinion - I'm guessing they're going to be spikes too.

I just did a little digging and found that Cycnoches Chlorochilon - which is part of the parantage of this plant - apparently has a habit of blooming twice off of the same bulb at different times... Crazy.

Is that habit common to other Cycnoches? That's a pretty awesome trait to have in the mix.

[isurus79]

Larger plants can bloom more than once per year. The cooperi that I show in tomorrow’s video might bloom again after this female flower is all done.

[SG in CR]

Originally Posted by isurus79

I'll put money on that smaller one blooming this year.

Looks like you were right. The smaller one has a bud on one of the bulbs.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by SG in CR

Looks like you were right. The smaller one has a bud on one of the bulbs.
Attachment 154390

Nice! I'm excited to see blooms!

[Louis_W]

Steven, thanks for posting this. I am doing well with catasetums, but I have not been able to keep a Cyc alive so far and I would really love to have a couple.

For about three years now I have bought a few from Fred each spring. They arrive looking like all his plants do: perfect. They the grow slowly and stunted and end up with a bulb half the size of the last one. The bulb lasts halfway through the winter and it collapses. Catasetums enjoy the same schedule and the S/H culture. I'm going to keep trying until I get it but I'll take all the advice enyone has to offer.

Originally Posted by SG in CR

Looks like you were right. The smaller one has a bud on one of the bulbs.
Attachment 154390

Did you ever see the flowers SG in CR??