Cycnoches: Life Span of Plants and Flowers

[NYCorchidman]

Thanks, Katrina.

When you say you break off the new growth, do you mean you break off the brannew part off the previous year's pb and pot it up alone?? I thought they somehow rely on the "mother bulb" for nutrition??

Have you tried separating individual pbs?

Regarding potting mix, as surprised as I am, I think I will have to come up with something different than moss alone. I just don't feel safe about them.
Perhaps adding some small rocks (this for sure as I don't use clay pots for some reason and these plants get top heavy although they are not that tall), or something that help open up the mix a bit but still retain water good. hmmm

Female or male, both welcome on cycnoches, although I prefer the look of male flowers more.
They are both very fragrant and I love to smell the flowers on these.
Do you find that when these plants make female flowers, the flower count is not as good as when they make male flowers?
I think all the pictures I see and the ones I had in the past with male flowers were all quite numerous.
I just had two female flowers, but then again, the growing tip of the spike got damaged and dried up.

---------- Post added at 01:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:57 PM ----------

I know it's very early, but I was not really expecting one right after another.
This is on Cyn. Swan Cascade x warscewiczii that had two female flowers in the past month or so. I think I had them for 6 weeks.

I wonder what I will get this time. Male flowers, so I can see if the color will be any different.

I'll keep you guys updated in a few weeks.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

Thanks, Katrina.

When you say you break off the new growth, do you mean you break off the brannew part off the previous year's pb and pot it up alone?? I thought they somehow rely on the "mother bulb" for nutrition??

I broke off the new growth...by accident. Clumsy move. Snap-OOPS! No, I didn't bother potting it up because w/no roots I figured it wouldn't survive w/out the mother.

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

Have you tried separating individual pbs?

I have but I prefer at least 2 growths - I feel they are a bit stronger. The one growth divisions have all sprouted fine though.

When I divided my Cycd Wine Delight 'JEM' last time I couldn't get it out of the net basket so I ended up tearing it apart trying to get it freed...separating all the growths and losing most of the roots. Believe it or not, all growths survived and sprouted new growths in the spring. The big piece I kept bloomed nicely this year - 2 spikes - but it didn't have as many flowers as in previous blooms. I chalk that up to it being ripped apart. Still, it does prove that this group can take a lot and still do well.

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

Regarding potting mix, as surprised as I am, I think I will have to come up with something different than moss alone. I just don't feel safe about them.
Perhaps adding some small rocks (this for sure as I don't use clay pots for some reason and these plants get top heavy although they are not that tall), or something that help open up the mix a bit but still retain water good. hmmm

I mostly use plastic pots (usually aircone) w/this group and I typically fill the bottom w/leca for the exact reason you described - stability.

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

Do you find that when these plants make female flowers, the flower count is not as good as when they make male flowers?
I think all the pictures I see and the ones I had in the past with male flowers were all quite numerous.
I just had two female flowers, but then again, the growing tip of the spike got damaged and dried up.

Yep...less flowers w/females and they are usually heavier and waxier (more substance) and most usually smell a bit different than the males. Stronger even. IME anyway.

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

I wonder what I will get this time. Male flowers, so I can see if the color will be any different.

I'll keep you guys updated in a few weeks.

Fingers crossed you get males!

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

I wonder what I will get this time. Male flowers, so I can see if the color will be any different.

You can take a small piece of tinfoil and put it on the tip of the new spike to "shade" it and trick it into putting out male flowers. Just be VERY careful because breaking the spike is easy!

[NYCorchidman]

When I divided my Cycd Wine Delight 'JEM' last time I couldn't get it out of the net basket so I ended up tearing it apart trying to get it freed...separating all the growths and losing most of the roots. Believe it or not, all growths survived and sprouted new growths in the spring. The big piece I kept bloomed nicely this year - 2 spikes - but it didn't have as many flowers as in previous blooms.

Did you give away the rest? If so, do you know if they bloomed??

Yep...less flowers w/females and they are usually heavier and waxier (more substance) and most usually smell a bit different than the males. Stronger even. IME anyway.

Hmm very interesting.
I really want to see male flowers of this plant so I can compare.

I had a different hybrid, cycnd (or cycn) Golden Shower, which had a bunch ( like ten at least) of male flowers. It basically had the same banana smell, but not as strong as two female flowers on this one I currently have.

[katrina]

I don't know if they bloomed. I think the 2nd largest piece went to Daethen...maybe she'll see this and chime in.

The 3rd growth that I was able to salvage was smaller/older and a bit shriveled...I'm guessing that one would take a year to build up strength before it blooms. Just a guess of course...I could be wrong. I'll see if I can find out how it's doing.

[NYCorchidman]

Ok.