Zns. Cynosure 'Alba' culture and care ???'s

[SJF]

Hi,
I purchased this plant a few weeks ago. It is my first Zygo. I have wanted one for quite some time. I am not sure of the culture. The grower's website doesn't say much and the person I bought it from wasn't sure. Any help you could give me would be welcomed. It is in spike now.

I am not sure if this is a fragrant variety or not

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

This is an intergeneric hybrid between a Zygopetalum and an Aganisia cyanea (aka Acacalis cyanea).

I have grown a Zygopetalum before, and I currently own an Aganisia (Acacalis) cyanea.

Your plant displays physical characteristics that are very similar to an Aganisia (Acacalis) cyanea.

1. It looks like it needs some water. The pseudobulbs are very wrinkled, and it really shouldn't look like that.

2. The parent plant, Aganisia (Acacalis) cyanea, loves water, in general, but it also needs a fair amount of air circulation to the roots.

3. Because of the Aganisia (Acacalis) cyanea parentage, this plant will most likely display some sort of seasonal behavior that may baffle you. It likes it very wet during the spring and summers, but in the falls and winters, they still should be watered, but less often.

4. It likes a fair amount of humidity - (no lower than 60% is adequate, 80% is closer to being ideal).

5. Your hybrid is a low light to medium light growing orchid.

6. It is also an intermediate to warm growing orchid (60 F - 95 F).

7. Just like many epiphytical orchids, the roots are capable of photosynthesis.

8. Blooming season, just as you're witnessing is some time in late winter and early spring.

9. It is fragrant. Both parents are fragrant. These two genera are known for their fragrance, so fragrance is a dominant genetic characteristic of this plant.


As a side note, I think the physical characteristics this plant got from the Zygopetalum part of the cross is the size of the flowers, and the size of the vegetation. Most of this hybrid's traits are dominant for the genes of Aganisia (Acacalis) cyanea. Acacalis cyanea is a miniature orchid, btw.

[SJF]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

This is an intergeneric hybrid between a Zygopetalum and an Aganisia cyanea (aka Acacalis cyanea).

I have grown a Zygopetalum before, and I currently own an Aganisia (Acacalis) cyanea.

Your plant displays physical characteristics that are very similar to an Aganisia (Acacalis) cyanea.

1. It looks like it needs some water. The pseudobulbs are very wrinkled, and it really shouldn't look like that.

2. The parent plant, Aganisia (Acacalis) cyanea, loves water, in general, but it also needs a fair amount of air circulation to the roots.

3. Because of the Aganisia (Acacalis) cyanea parentage, this plant will most likely display some sort of seasonal behavior that may baffle you. It likes it very wet during the spring and summers, but in the falls and winters, they still should be watered, but less often.

4. It likes a fair amount of humidity - (no lower than 60% is adequate, 80% is closer to being ideal).

5. Your hybrid is a low light to medium light growing orchid.

6. It is also an intermediate to warm growing orchid (60 F - 95 F).

7. Just like many epiphytical orchids, the roots are capable of photosynthesis.

8. Blooming season, just as you're witnessing is some time in late winter and early spring.

9. It is fragrant. Both parents are fragrant. These two genera are known for their fragrance, so fragrance is a dominant genetic characteristic of this plant.

Thank you for all of your tips. I really appreciate them

The p-bulbs looked like that when I bought it. It was the best of the lot. Maybe it wasn't the best choice to buy then. With watering will they plump?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

They will plump up quite easily when you water them, as you will see!

You will get a gage of how often to water just by looking at the pseudobulbs. Best to be cautious and not overwater them though.

These are definitely not plants I'd recommend for a person just starting off with Zygos.

[SJF]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

They will plump up quite easily when you water them, as you will see!

You will get a gage of how often to water just by looking at the pseudobulbs. Best to be cautious and not overwater them though.

These are definitely not plants I'd recommend for a person just starting off with Zygos.

Thank you. This will go on my baby and watch closely list.

Which varities do you recommend for beginners?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Zygopetalum Arthur Elle is a good hybrid to start with. There are other Zygo hybrids, but make sure they have no other genus in the parentage - it's gotta be strictly in the genus Zygopetalum, not the intergeneric hybrids.

You could also try the species. Some species are seasonal, but they won't display the same type of seasonal behaviors as Acacalis cyanea. True Zygos can be grown much drier during the winters. They should still be watered, but it should be done very infrequently. So, in this sense, they are pretty easy to take care of.

[SJF]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Zygopetalum Arthur Elle is a good hybrid to start with. There are other Zygo hybrids, but make sure they have no other genus in the parentage - it's gotta be strictly in the genus Zygopetalum, not the intergeneric hybrids.

You could also try the species. Some species are seasonal, but they won't display the same type of seasonal behaviors as Acacalis cyanea. True Zygos can be grown much drier during the winters. They should still be watered, but it should be done very infrequently. So, in this sense, they are pretty easy to take care of.

Thank you

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

You're welcome.

[SJF]

Getting closer to show time

[silken]

Can't wait to see it. I guess it will be quite a bit of white with alba in the name and the buds look quite whitish??