Leptotes unicolor in flower

[RosieC]

I was sure I posted this earlier today, but no sign of it. Oh well

This is my Leptotes unicolor in flower.

This plant was loosing leaves really quickly in 2011. It turned out to be a fungus running down the inside of the rhizome (thanks to whoever it was who suggested that, I can't remember after a couple of years). Cutting into the Rhizome you could see a black dot in the center, and small cut next to each other showed it was actually a line running down the rhizome. I cut away until it was gone and all I had left was 3 leaves. But those three leaves are still with me now, and 5 others have grown.

Each new leaf has flowered but I keep forgetting to take pictures as they only last about a week. This time I managed to get pics before they went

[Tindomul]

Thats really pretty, great colour. Cutting and cutting away must have made you really worry you were going to loose it all. Lucky you found some without the fungus.

[nikkik]

Fantastic save!! What a beautiful flower you were rewarded with!

[WhiteRabbit]

Lovely! Glad you were able to save some!

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Awesome Rosie, this one is pretty, love the color!

[Bud]

Beautiful flower. You have managed to grow it healthy and happy just by looking at the leaves and the robust roots.
Did you know that if you selfed it and got a pod, you can make it into a flavoring just like vanilla?

[TOMMYMIAMI]

really? wow:-) have never heard about this, awesome!

[Bud]

Leptotes is an orchid found from Paraguay all the way down southern Brazil. Its pods are used as a substitute for vanilla in milk and ice cream. It grows in cooler climates than vanilla, as its distribution occupies more distant regions to the equator. It contains vanillin, the main compound of the extract of the vanilla.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by Bud

Leptotes is an orchid found from Paraguay all the way down southern Brazil. Its pods are used as a substitute for vanilla in milk and ice cream. It grows in cooler climates than vanilla, as its distribution occupies more distant regions to the equator. It contains vanillin, the main compound of the extract of the vanilla.

Very cool, I have Leptotes pohlitinocoi, it grows really well so hope it will bloom for me some time soon as well:-)

[Bud]

Good for you Tommy, if you have a chance watch videos on YouTube on how to self vanilla flowers to create pods and just follow the method with your Leptotes flowers.