Brassavola cucullata

[katsucats]

This started flowering in a basket with leca, but I switched it out to a mount because I just didn't like the setup. I feel it's not too big a change anyways.



The flower lasts a couple weeks. The smell gets stronger each night. Up close, it smells like baby oil, or scented baby wipes, in an odd way. From a distance, it is a tangy citrus zest, or it could be described as an orange liqueur. Strong smell, fills up the whole room on some days.

[WhiteRabbit]

Nice! Looks cool on the mount!

[RosieC]

So Delicate!

[katsucats]

The flower just fell 2 days ago. It lasted about 2-3 weeks. Normally, at the end of a bloom, one would expect the plant maybe recoup, maybe put out more roots, then wait until the same season next year (or at least that's always how I imagined it).

But this time, after throwing that uppercut on the right side, it follows up with a left hook.



It's the 3rd bloom in 3 months, almost continuously *knock on wood*. To be honest, I didn't like the Brassavola much at first. It seems to have finicky roots, preferring not to dry out, but a little extra water turns the roots brown and mushy. The long, terete leaves take up too much space. But I wouldn't mind if this keeps up and the room is always smelling like a tangerine.

[isurus79]

Very nice! Congrats!

[RosieC]

[BettyE]

Congratulations...that is a beautiful, well grown orchid plant. BettyE

[katsucats]

Thank you, everyone, for the encouragement.

[katsucats]

New flower bloomed about 2 days ago. The fragrance was stronger than the last time around. I figured it out; it's a sort of disappointing aspect of night-blooming plants that depend on the light cycle to activate. If I have to turn on the lights for more than a couple minutes for whatever reason, the scent greatly diminishes. I wonder if it's possible to put it in some slotted box in the day time to initiate the fragrance.