Rossioglossum Rawdon Jester 'Monte Vista'

[mjHuntingtonBeach]

A hybrid of R. grande x R.williamsianum, this one a named variety from Norman Orchids here in Southern California, purchased 2 1/2 years ago, with three p-bulbs. It now has 7 or 8. I've been growing it outdoors, it seems to love the coastal southern California weather. Snails love it, so I've had to work to keep them away from it. I had it bloom for me in early 2012, three flowers, but this is the first major bloom since then. I was unimpressed the first bloom but this time, it is a definite WOW. A unique waxy yellow and brown flower. No fragrance that I can detect. Pictures taken this morning.

[tuvoc]

Well done.

Kim

[WhiteRabbit]

Beautiful!

[RosieC]

Really lovely!

[silken]

Congrats on blooming this so well. I have this hybrid but it has yet to bloom. Any culture tips?? Mine also seems to drop leaves on older pseudo bulbs a little sooner than I think it should.

Yours is lovely!

[mjHuntingtonBeach]

Well my understanding is that this is a hybrid of two cooler growing orchid species from central america. So I have it outdoors where it is on the north side of the house with only late afternoon sun, potted in medium orchiata bark, and I water once a week with a mild kelp and fertilizer solution. Summers here are rain free, winters the only water it gets is when I water as the eaves of the roof keep it dry from rain. Temperature ranges 40-50 at night, 55-75 day during winter, summers mid 60's nights, days in the 70's - 80's. I'm close to the beach so evenings and early mornings often have a lot of marine layer that beads up on the plants. So if you can recreate that culture, that seems to make mine happy.

[silken]

Thanks. I try to keep it in my cooler area of the greenhouse. It has a nice large newer growth so maybe it will bloom one day. It would like to be outdoors in summer here but I don't have a good place where I can keep rain off of it.

[Gthumbz89]

I love the patterning on this and other odontoglossums, but I'm pretty sure cool growing orchids would hate my face in hot as hell Arizona.

[JKeys]

Fantasic!

[ajdamania2]

Originally Posted by silken

Thanks. I try to keep it in my cooler area of the greenhouse. It has a nice large newer growth so maybe it will bloom one day. It would like to be outdoors in summer here but I don't have a good place where I can keep rain off of it.

I have a rosioglossum grande and I expose it to full sunshine like cattleyas. The leaves and bulbs are not huge but it hasn't failed to flower since 2011 the time I put her on a sunny windowsill. It does like warm temperature and plenty of water while growing.