Sophronitis cernua (Project 14 - Spring 2012)

[orchidsarefun]

per OrchidWiz this plant has bloomed every month except May and July. We certainly seemed to prove that here !
I can't recall anyone having blooms in those 2 months, but we may also have disproved that !

[pasojanice]

Hi, I had to take time out and have some shoulder surgery but my husband has been helping me with all the orchids and today I got the surprise of my life. I have buds on my little baby! I am going to take pics tomorrow. Today is the first day I have been on here and WOW! the pictures of the blooms are beautiful. I am soooooooo impressed with one and all. I can't wait to see how mine turns out. Hope, hope, hope. I missed a few months of all of you and have to say that I am glad to be back.

[Wynn Dee13]

My cernua has two buds and I'm really surprised. I really neglected it all summer and then I have been sick for the last 3 weeks. My other cernua is just starting new growths so it won't bloom for a while. It bloomed in February last year. It is funny that they bloom at different times of the year. Here is a picture of my tiny buds.

[Leafmite]

Hmm, very nice. My new growth is still closed up so no idea if there are blooms in the near future. After being forgotten most of the summer with the heat/drought, it will be astonishing if there are blooms. I am definitely planning to put it where I can see it this summer. The roots are really growing, though. I wet them nearly every day when I water my other bare-root mounts.

[Daenerys]

Nice. Looks like you're about a week from blooming.

I've got new growths starting on mine, now.

[NatalieS]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Hmm, very nice. My new growth is still closed up so no idea if there are blooms in the near future. After being forgotten most of the summer with the heat/drought, it will be astonishing if there are blooms. I am definitely planning to put it where I can see it this summer. The roots are really growing, though. I wet them nearly every day when I water my other bare-root mounts.

Do the new growths look quite mature? I would put a torch up to the leaves to see if there's anything inside. One of mine looked very fat but was still closed. Turns out the buds were trapped inside because the sheath was still wrapped around the base of the leaf. I had to cut the sheath and the leaf sprang open, revealing three rather large buds. Apparently this is not uncommon.

[NatalieS]

Originally Posted by Wynn Dee13

My cernua has two buds and I'm really surprised. I really neglected it all summer and then I have been sick for the last 3 weeks. My other cernua is just starting new growths so it won't bloom for a while. It bloomed in February last year. It is funny that they bloom at different times of the year. Here is a picture of my tiny buds.

Regarding the different flowering times, I happened across some fascinating information here:

Brazilian Orchids - Orchid News 20

I didn't know about little Sophronitis alagoensis, but apparently it's hard to tell apart from cernua other than the fact that it's consistently smaller.

I'm not saying that there might be some kind of mix up. I'm just intrigued that cernua is meant to flower in spring, but it flowers in autumn for many growers. It wouldn't be the first orchid to flower in a different season when grown in cultivation. I just thought it was interesting and that people who like this genus might find it equally interesting.

[orchidsarefun]

Originally Posted by NatalieS

Regarding the different flowering times, I happened across some fascinating information here:

Brazilian Orchids - Orchid News 20

I didn't know about little Sophronitis alagoensis, but apparently it's hard to tell apart from cernua other than the fact that it's consistently smaller.

That is very interesting. I was wondering why some had rounder leaves and far fewer flowers ( max 2 ? ), and this may just be the explanation. I'd have to see them side by side to be sure as its difficult to judge size in a photo. Thanks for the great find.
see this photo too
http://www.orchidspecies.com/orphotd...ralagoense.jpg

[orchidsarefun]

Mine
Sent from my HTC VLE_U using Tapatalk 2

[Leafmite]

Neat information!
My new growth is still getting larger and developing. It is not yet at that stage. Looks healthy, just taking forever (especially since I am checking it every day).