Cuitlauzina pendula

[smweaver]

This is an uncommon high-altitude Mexican species that produces pendulous spikes of highly fragrant pink blooms in the late winter/early spring months. This year my plant's producing three spikes, the longest of which is over 2 feet so far.

It likes cool winters, but I've found that it will also tolerate intermediate temperatures during its winter rest period, when it likes to be grown in bright light with very little water. Warm/hot summers are tolerated during the growing season, as long as the plant is provided with bright indirect light and watered heavily.

I've read that this species is prone to terminating its spikes and/or blasting its buds if it's watered too early, but I haven't experienced that problem with my plant. I start watering it as soon as spikes appear. The only problem now is taking the thing over to the bathtub to water it, while trying to avoid whacking the spikes on furniture along the way. I'll post some more photos once the blooms have opened.

Steve

Cuitlauzina pendula | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Cuitlauzina pendula | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[camille1585]

Those are very long spikes! Funny that they're going straight down. How on earth do you put it in the tub without damaging the spikes? I would have probably broken one by now, or at least knocked off some buds.

Maybe soaking it in a bucket on the countertop would be easier?

[Tom-DE]

Very nice species! Mine is still resting and I dont water it for the whole winter...

I am curious where you grow this one?

[smweaver]

Camille, I hold it above the tub with one hand and pour a pitcher of water over it with the other. So it never really gets set down while it's being watered (then, of course, I stand there for five minutes holding the plant while the pot drains before I make the return trip with it to the sunroom).

Tom, it stays in a large four-season sunroom, with the majority of the rest of my collection, during the winter. The room shares the same heating system with the rest of the house, but I close the vents at night to let it cool down to between around 47 and 53 F. Most of the other orchids I grow can handle the same temps (dendrobiums, lycastes, cattleyas, laelias, etc.). I don't water this one between the end of its completion of the newest pseudobulbs (usually around late October) and the time when spikes appear (early to mid February).

[smweaver]

Flowers have opened on one of the three spikes and they're very fragrant, approximately 2 inches in diameter, and of heavy substance.

Steve

Cuitlauzina pendula | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Cuitlauzina pendula | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[Zoi2]

Joann

[nenella]

beautiful colour!!

[RosieC]

Those flowers are gorgeous. Love the second pic with the long spike.

[smweaver]

Last picture that I'm going to post, since most of the blooms on the first two spikes have opened and will possibly have faded by the time the third spike's flowers are in their prime. Still a really great smell coming from this one, especially between mid morning and mid afternoon when the sun's shining directly on the blooms.

Cuitlauzina pendula | Flickr - Photo Sharing!