Cycnoches barthiorum

[nancy]

Very arresting flower; I've never been able to detect much of a scent, even with my "supersniffer."
Does anybody else grow this, and is it scented?
I used a 10x macro, so the depth of field is too small to show the ? at the top (might be the stigma?) that looks like a yellow steam-rolled octopus.
Luckily, it *chose* to open its buds before the (latest) hurricane winds...which tore plants off of their mounts, as well as removing the freakin' bark from other wood mounts!
Bonus: I won't have to uproot my plumerias for winter storage, they already are...
Regards - Nancy

[isurus79]

Barthiorum is probably my favorite Cyc species. Unfortunately mine is still recovering from my winter 'experiment' so probably wont bloom this year, but I can always check out my OB gallery! Mine does have a faint scent. Try to smell it in the middle of the day when its been in the sun for a while. Its faint, but it should be there.

[justatypn]

Cyc are extremely impressive. I have a Cyc. Jean E. Monnier = Cyc. barthiorum x Cyc. cooperi. If given the appropriate care, rest through winter, spring show of new growth, water/fert vigorously blooms are awesome shorter lived than I would like than they rest again. This one is not fragrant but you can bet next blooming I will be sniffing throughout the day to see if there is a hint of aroma. Nice growing Nancy

[nancy]

Hi Cheryl - Jean Monnier is a really pretty flower; someday I'd surely like to get to name one after somebody I love, too - immortality of a sort, if everyone wants to grow it.
I have a JM, and it hasn't bloomed this year yet (late fall, I think), but I think I remember the flowers being smaller than either barthiorum or cooperii. But powerful! I think I do remember it being scented, though.
Steve - do we want to know about your "experiment"? I'd much rather learn from the mistakes of others (when I can take time out from shooting myself in the foot).
I believe my Jean Monnier has a little pokey starting (if Ike hasn't swept it away).
Cheers - Nancy

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by nancy

Steve - do we want to know about your "experiment"? I'd much rather learn from the mistakes of others (when I can take time out from shooting myself in the foot).

I had read many times that Catasetinae experience high light levels during their dormant period. So in order to replicate the 'natural environment' I threw all my critters in bright Hawaiian sun. Long story short, I burned the crap out of the bulbs and the base of all my Catasetinae turned black and rotted off (and no, I did not water at all). In order to save them I had to either cut off valuable back bulbs (most of my guys are very young plants, so back bulbs are VERY important!) and/or the base of the new bulbs and spag n bag them in order to maintain enough humidity so they dont dry out because of the gapping wound left in their last viable half bulb. I lost 1 or 2, but most survived in an almost crippled capacity for this season. The moral of the story is that dryness is the most important factor, not bright light. I really dont know why I tried to change my conditions (ie. dark, dry corner for a few months) that have worked flawlessly over the years. I hope your not yet with my novel, but now you know!

[dvespertilio]

My Cyc barthiorum and Cyc Jean Monnier spikes are coming along, the latter already is showing a distinct flower bud. Great growing, Nancy! Hope the hurricane damage isn't as bad as it sounds. And, Steve, guess we all try things in our obsession with trying to get these things to max out on blooms. Sorry that didn't work out for you, and I sincerely hope your surviving plants all make a recovery in the next growing season or so.

[EdinAZ]

Nice pictures Nancy and Cheryl,

My favorite catasetinea are the Cycnoches cooperi, barthiorum, and thier child 'Jean Monnier'. I always love seeing mine bloom.

Thanks for sharing.

Ed

[orchideric]

Andrea Niessen (Orquideas del Valle) grows C. barthiorum beyond perfection at her lower nursery in Cali (it is named for her relative). The pseudobulbs are easily 2 feet tall and at least an inch and half in diameter. As I say "beyond" perfection. So when you see her at one of the international shows ask her her secrets.

And Steve is correct, the Catasetinae do not requrie higher light levels when dormant. They may get higher light in nature but that is for established plants with companion plants and leaf detritus - not a lone plant in a pot.

Eric

[EdinAZ]

Originally Posted by orchideric

Andrea Niessen (Orquideas del Valle) grows C. barthiorum beyond perfection at her lower nursery in Cali (it is named for her relative). The pseudobulbs are easily 2 feet tall and at least an inch and half in diameter. As I say "beyond" perfection. So when you see her at one of the international shows ask her her secrets.

And Steve is correct, the Catasetinae do not requrie higher light levels when dormant. They may get higher light in nature but that is for established plants with companion plants and leaf detritus - not a lone plant in a pot.

Eric

Eric,

Thanks for that info. I have talked and e-mailed with Andrea in the past. Never about Cynoches though.

As it happens, she is bringing some plants in for me, and I will be seeing her at the Chicagoland Orchid Festival at the end of this month. She is often a guest grower at Oak Hill.

Now that you have told me about her Cycnoches talents, I'll be sure to talk with her about them. Sounds like she can be very helpful to me.

Now I'm feeling sorry that I didn't ask her to bring me some Cycnoches also!

Ed

[anthonywidjaya]

thanks....for the dry vs light experience.
i did the same thing and lost 4 of my cyc. and mormodes.
so it was dry, not light problem