Zygopetalum Adelaide Meadows 'Brabum' x Ptpm. Matthina 'Elizabeth' questions

[lotis146]

Almost two months ago I got Zygo. Adelaide Meadows 'Brabum' x Ptpm Matthina 'Elizabeth'. It had one new growth, moderate in size, and several pbulbs. About 2.5 weeks ago I repotted it; this revealed an extremely pot bound plant but still good roots. I went up a size to a decorative ceramic "Orchid" pot the seemed to fit the bill. It didn't appear to suffer from this however after repotting I sprayed it (for a couple reasons) and left outside for many days (very cool evenings during that period), then I brought back in, and several days ago put back outside for the rain, which it did for a couple days.

The leaves on an older bulb died off which I at first thought was sun burn as I had left this in a bit brighter sun believing that's what it liked. But it does seem it died off naturally as other bulbs don't have leaves. My concern here is that the new growth appears to be forming a pbulb and what (I think) I know about Zygos is that they flower BEFORE they form their pbulb. So I'm wondering if this hybrid forms the bulb first then flowers or if this plant isn't going to flower off this growth.

If the latter is the case then I would like to know how to make this plant happier so it may bloom on the next growth. Also from what I can tell there's no residual stems on any of the other 5 pbulbs.

Does anyone else have this hybrid? Going to look into Ptpm...

...and of course I thought I took pics when I repotted like I did all the others that day, but no...

[WhiteRabbit]

Hard to say after only two months whether or not it needs something different from you.

[orchidsarefun]

zygos flower after the new pbulb is produced - when the new bulb is about 4 inches tall you will see a spike developing inside the outer leaf sheath, if you are lucky. However, they don't necessarily flower off each new pbulb. Some develop 2 spikes on each pbulb. This applies ( generally) to all zygo intergenerics too.
All mine are outdoors now, dappled shade- and loving it. I use dynagro which is an extended release fertiliser to fertilise. Lasts about 90 days. After this treatment last year, all my zygos bloomed with multiple spikes.

[silken]

Do yours get rained on? I had mine outside 2 summers ago and it bloomed two gorgeous spikes later in the summer. But the centre leaf turned black and came off. I figure rain got in that area and it rotted. So I didn't put it out last year and it hasn't bloomed since. I have no-where outdoors that I can have it covered.

[lotis146]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Hard to say after only two months whether or not it needs something different from you.

Thank you, that makes sense. Hard not to get impatient watching all these lovely plants.

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

zygos flower after the new pbulb is produced - when the new bulb is about 4 inches tall you will see a spike developing inside the outer leaf sheath, if you are lucky. However, they don't necessarily flower off each new pbulb. Some develop 2 spikes on each pbulb. This applies ( generally) to all zygo intergenerics too.
All mine are outdoors now, dappled shade- and loving it. I use dynagro which is an extended release fertiliser to fertilise. Lasts about 90 days. After this treatment last year, all my zygos bloomed with multiple spikes.

I'm no expert of course, but I heard a little while ago that Zygos (at least some) flower then form the pbulb. And never mind what I heard, my Zygolum Rhein Moonlight did exactly that, the flower dying some weeks ago and the pbulb is still forming now. My experience with that plant is what drove me to ask these questions seeing the pbulb form on this other hybrid.

However, I have heard that as well, that they don't always flower off each bulb. Another factor that brought this thread about, I assumed the forming of the bulb signaled that this bulb won't flower.

Originally Posted by silken

Do yours get rained on? I had mine outside 2 summers ago and it bloomed two gorgeous spikes later in the summer. But the centre leaf turned black and came off. I figure rain got in that area and it rotted. So I didn't put it out last year and it hasn't bloomed since. I have no-where outdoors that I can have it covered.

Yes actually, for the little bit (not quite couple weeks) that I have had them outside they've actually gotten quite a bit of rain. The pbulb didn't start forming until oh this last week or so.

---------- Post added at 01:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:32 AM ----------

Silken, btw that's too bad about that suspected rot and its not blooming. Perhaps you can create some sort of cover...?

[orchidsarefun]

I think the confusion may be coming in on interpretation. Zygos do flower and then a new bulb, or 2 forms - usually when the spike is dying off. The bloom is always off the "old" bulb. As the new bulb forms, a spike, or 2, also develops. The spike initiates, or is visible, when the new growth is about 4 inches tall, and is part of the new growth.

[cbuchman]

My Zygo is outdoors in the summer; indoors in winter. I also just repotted, resulting in a short sulking period. Zygos are not happy with any salt build up in the media (or so i was told), so i repot mine every 2 years. There is always some loss of leaves on older pblubs when I do. It is also important to wait until new growth is starting for the repot so that the plant re-established itself quickly. I repotted this Spring when 1 growth was evident and was a rewarded with a second growth. Since mine usually has 2 spikes per pblub, I'm looking forward to 4 spikes thus year

[silken]

Originally Posted by cbuchman

My Zygo is outdoors in the summer; indoors in winter. I also just repotted, resulting in a short sulking period. Zygos are not happy with any salt build up in the media (or so i was told), so i repot mine every 2 years. There is always some loss of leaves on older pblubs when I do. It is also important to wait until new growth is starting for the repot so that the plant re-established itself quickly. I repotted this Spring when 1 growth was evident and was a rewarded with a second growth. Since mine usually has 2 spikes per pblub, I'm looking forward to 4 spikes thus year

Do you allow yours to get rained on?

[cbuchman]

Originally Posted by silken

Do you allow yours to get rained on?

I do allow mine to be rained on. I've not had a problem with it. Through I have been known to check after rainstorms and ensure that there is no standing water in new growths - I wick it out with a paper towel blow on it hard. I'm just a little compulsive

[lotis146]

This new growth is definitely forming a pbulb and there is not evidence of a spike on it or any other younger bulb. Sadly it seems it does not want to spike for me.

Perhaps, as I had the impression Zygo likes bright light and it got a couple hours afternoon light, I stressed Zygo/Ptpm by giving it too much light so it went straight to bulb?

---------- Post added at 12:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:12 PM ----------

And maybe it's not like the warmer temps...? Then again I learned they like cool but can tolerate intermediate.

I learned too that Propetalum is half Zygo half Promeneae, the latter I have no knowledge of. All my plants will be moving to a new location soon anyways, one that doesn't have as much light more shaded but lots of morning light.

---------- Post added at 12:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:17 PM ----------

Okay one more thing...maybe I repotted it at the wrong time??? It started forming this bulb maybe a week after I repotted.