Dendrochilum magnum - Orchid Board

Tindomul · #1 10-06-2010, 12:36 PM

My wife decided to treat me to a special surprise and came home from the Farmer's Market at Union Square (NYC) with this special gift. I was very happy!
It has this intense sweet lemony smell that overwhelms my brain if I sniff it too long. The smell is not overpowering in the apartment, but you do get a whiff of it every now and then if you are downwind from the plant. The plant is very big as you can see, I think my largest orchid so far. In short, its really cool!!!

Daethen · #2 10-06-2010, 01:53 PM

The blooms on mine are just starting to fade. I love the smell!!! Enjoy and give that wife of yours a hug. She deserves it for being a wonderful enabler.

Tindomul · #3 10-06-2010, 01:57 PM

How long do they last?

Call_Me_Bob · #4 10-06-2010, 02:23 PM

nice! how do you care for it? i really want to get one

boytjie · #5 10-06-2010, 05:06 PM

The funny thing that has always struck me about this particular species is that it actually makes an interesting experiment into how our brains are "wired" for scent: some folks, like you, find it pleasant and "lemony," while to others it is overpowering and pungent, more like ammonia. There doesn't seem to be any middle ground here!

Call_Me_Bob · #6 10-06-2010, 05:10 PM

haha!

Daethen · #7 10-06-2010, 05:27 PM

So far, my blooms which were opening when they came in the mail have been at it for over 2 weeks. I have been told that they do not like to be repotted so put it off if you can. I saw somewhere a post that described the scent as soapy and I have to agree to some extent. Can't really describe it well, but I love it. I have to lean in and get a good sniff whenever I pass it by.

Tindomul · #8 10-06-2010, 05:39 PM

Good to know about the repotting, I was going to do that tonight. Anyhow, I guess we should come up with a new term for the scent. How about Dendrochily?

boytjie · #9 10-06-2010, 05:43 PM

I'd second the advice above. Dendrochilums love to be potbound, almost to the point of their roots splitting the pot. I let mine overspill the pots/baskets and the more crowded they get, the better they seem to grow and bloom.

IncredibleOrchids · #10 10-06-2010, 07:50 PM

We all think it's a lemon smell here in the greenhouse, but we brought them to a show, and everyone turned up their nose at the smell!!! We thought they were just weird non-addicts. I love the scent.