Bifrenaria inodora alba

[Frdemetr]

This year my inodora alba has flowers all around the pot, a show of color (or better, no color!) and perfume!

[Angurek]

I love the green coloring on the petals.

[Sandy4453]

I love low blooming orchids like this one. These blooms are fantastic.

[smweaver]

Fantastic, Frederico! Does this species need a dry winter rest in order to get it to bloom?

Steve

[trdyl]

It's gorgeous!

[Frdemetr]

Hi Steve,

"Large flowers" Bifrenarias (harrisoniae, tyrianthina, inodora etc) actualy don't need a winter rest (ie, you don't need watering less), but they are demanding in terms of day/night temperature difference in the winter, otherwise they don't bloom in the spring. Bifrenarias live in the "Campos Rupestres de Altitude", or medium/high altitude savannah (800 - 1500m) in the nature, with large day/night temps difference.
I guess at least 10°C day/night difference in half of the winter days are enough to induce blooming; fortunately I live at 800m above sea level and I have these conditions!

[smweaver]

Thanks, Frederico, for your response. So what would you say are the average nighttime temperatures that the bifrenarias receive in your location?

[Frdemetr]

Steve,

In the winter the temps are between 10 and 22°C, in average about 15°C; in the summer 18-30°C, in average about 22°C. Sometimes "extreme" temps occur (5°C in the winter or 35°C in the summer), but fortunately it's uncommon!

[smweaver]

Thanks again, Frederico. Although I have two plants of Bifrenaria harrisoniae, I don't have inodora. The two harrisoniaes bloom for me every winter, so perhaps I would be successful with an inodora also.

Steve

[kiki-do]

They are gorgeous blooms! I love the coloring. I have the harrisoniae and give it a winter rest. I did not know that they don't need one. One thing about orchid growing....when you think you have a handle on a type orchid, you soon realize you really don't.