New Myrmecophila christinae

[smweaver]

This one's new to me. It's in the process of creating a new flush of roots, so I've secured it to a basket. Other than providing a lot heat, water, humidity and sunlight (which are abundant here during our swampy summer months), if anyone who grows this species has any helpful advice to pass along, I will be grateful for your knowledge and experience. It was inside when the photos were taken, but I have it outdoors now on the back deck in full sun.

[Pegleg]

Hi Steve,

I have one which is just finishing up blooming now. The only advice I have to offer is-be patient.
You are off to a better start than I was. I received it as a single pseudobulb division in 2017. I did not get my first bloom until last spring. It has more than 20 pb now. The original pb started growing in two directions and the two leads seemed to take turns growing. Fortunately, it was growing more than one new pb each year. It still seems to be alternating. The pb that is blooming this year is not on the same lead that bloomed last year.

Best of luck,
Meg

[smweaver]

Thank you, Meg! I appreciate your feedback. I can't imagine growing one of these from a single pseudobulb, but that speaks very well of your skill level. How long did the flowers last--and were they fragrant? The largest bulb on mine has the remains of a very thick spike from (I'm assuming) last year. So I hope I can summon the patience (and skill) needed to get it where it needs to be by this time next year.

Thanks again for your comments, and best regards

Steve

[Pegleg]

Your plant looks good so, I spike next year is not out of the question. The change in growing conditions may set it back a bit but, don’t be discouraged. According to my notes, I noticed the first signs of a spike in mid October, the first flowers opened in mid May, most of those blooms are gone but, there are a few straggler buds at the tip, yet to open. I have not noticed a fragrance but, that might be because I can’t get my nose close enough. These plants have really long spikes!

[smweaver]

That spike is insanely long. No wonder any scent could only be detected by a bee. Thank you for the further information from your notes. I figured that the change in climate might set it back. But I did specifically get it at this time of year because the next three months (July through September) are the only time I'll be able to provide anything very close to what it gets in nature. It will spend the winter in a very large south-facing bathroom window where the temperature never drops below 70 F at night. I thought about keeping it in the sunroom with everything else. But I can only provide winter night "highs" in the low 60s, which I thought might be pushing my luck a little with a plant that's native to mangrove swamps in the Yucatan peninsula (at least from what little I've been able to find on this species so far).

I do love all of those pseudobulbs on your plant--especially since these all arose from a single bulb not very long ago. That gives me a better idea of just how robust these plants are when they're happy. Again, I really appreciate the information you've provided.

Steve