Bc. Maikai, I think. - Orchid Board

Junebug · #1 12-07-2009, 07:04 PM

This little noid chid was in desperate need of some TLC when it was given to me last fall. On more than one occassion the previous owner told me it had once produced pretty little orange blooms. You can imagine my surprise when instead of orange, they turned out to be purple and freckled.

I suspect this baby to be some variety of Bc. Maikai. My nose it out of commission due to a bad cold so I won't be able to accurately check for fragrance for a few days. Does anyone know if all Maikai's are fragrant?

fotofashion · #2 12-07-2009, 07:30 PM

I have a Maikai 'Mayumi' It has six spikes in bloom and I detect no odor. It is pretty enough to offset that.

Beverly A.

alevan · #3 12-08-2009, 02:37 AM

Hi Junebug,
I have a Bc. Maikai "Mayumi" too. Despite the fact that it has now 27 blooms open I cannot detect any fragrance...

.... but this is not a constant behaviour: on previous years bloomings I appreciated a delightful fragrance after sunset and in presence of warm night temperatures.
So fix your cold and take a whiff....

Bye

InspirChid1712 · #4 12-09-2009, 10:39 AM

My Maikai is fragrant after dark, but only if it is kept in total darkness without any light disturbance. It hasn't bloomed this year, and I'm not totally sure why... it grew very well all summer and put out 9 new growths. I think it may be unhappy in its potting mix, and it is probably a bit cold where I am keeping it for the winter. I also have a problem giving it enough light during these dark months. Oh well, perhaps the flowers are yet to come!

BikerDoc5968 · #5 12-09-2009, 11:12 AM

Elliot wins the prize! These guys are unbelievably fragrant at night. I have a Bc Little Star x Maikai that is very small and has flowered for the 1st time for me. At night when I go into the GH to put the chids to bed for the evening, I am rewarded with the most wonderful fragrance that truly fills the entire GH! Mine only had 2 flowers this time but I trust with age and increased size more will come.

Junebug · #6 12-10-2009, 12:48 PM

Thanks for responding guys. My cold is much better and my sense of smell has returned.

Two of her three buds have now opened.

There's no evidence of perfume yet, but that's a condition that could always change.

Another surprise from this plant...it looks like 2 new "tiny" buds are popping out in place of a small sheath that I'd given up on months ago. I've included photos of her latest progress.

Kmy · #7 12-12-2009, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BikerDoc5968

It's a very pretty hybrids cattleya!
I love it

Royal · #8 12-12-2009, 09:41 AM

I used to have one, gave it away. Mine was not fragrant at all, even at night. I guess mine inherited its fragrance genes from the bowringiana parent.

Junebug · #9 12-12-2009, 11:12 AM

Thanks for all the responses. I still haven't detected a fragrance from this pretty baby, but it's comforting to know she has the potential. Perhaps she needs to mature a bit. Some of my chids who were previously thought to be unscented were in fact scented. It just took them a a few seasons to get their acts together.

Junebug · #10 12-15-2009, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Junebug

Thanks for all the responses. I still haven't detected a fragrance from this pretty baby, but it's comforting to know she has the potential. Perhaps she needs to mature a bit. Some of my chids who were previously thought to be unscented were in fact scented. It just took them a a few seasons to get their acts together.

Last evening a bout of insomnia gave me the opportunity to periodically check on my little Maikai for some sign of fragrance. It was around 12:30 a.m. when I began checking and when I did I discovered her lovely perfume which was reminiscent of cloves.