C. Rochussenii

[jldriessnack]

Hey ya'll, I have a huge 18 bulb and growing C. rochussenii and it has only just flowered for the first time and only one raceme of flowers. This guy gets ample water and light, he has bulbs that are nearly a foot tall NOT INCLUDING the leaves. He is ROBUST. What am I doing wrong?

[Roberta]

I'm not familiar with the species, and after looking it up, I know why... it's a warm-grower and BIG. (Something I could not possibly accommodate.) Based on photos in Orchidwiz, your plant is getting close to maturity, but just barely. Likely another year or two likely will produce a better show, but one raceme is a good sign, it's getting there! Where are you located? Growing conditions?

[estación seca]

I've seen small divisions of this - one to three pseudobulbs - flowering at a vendor booth at the Tamiami show. They might have been recent divisions from a big plant. That seller said to keep them soggy wet at all times and fertilize heavily.

[jldriessnack]

Here is a photo

[jldriessnack]

I am in MD. It goes outside in the summer, 70 nights and 90F days. And in Fall to spring it is indoors where it is 60-80F with very bright grow lights that even emit some heat.

[Roberta]

I think that it looks great. And may just need to get a bit bigger for more flowers. Temperatures look OK. Summer is likely fine (probably also humid), winter humidity may be less than it wants. But looks to me like it is growing well.

[estación seca]

The plants I saw for sale had somewhat shorter and much wider pseudobulbs, and smaller leaves. They were not deep green; they were yellowish green. I suspect your plant is getting a lot less light than that seller's plants got, and I would suggest increasing the light.

[smweaver]

That's a great-looking plant. I would be happy with just the one spike for now, as it gives you an idea of what to expect when it gets even larger. Please let us know how long the blooms last, and if there's any scent to them. Congratulations. That's a very cool plant and spike.

Steve