Myv. Aruba’s Spotted Beauty

[SaraJean]

Myrmecavola Aruba's Spotted Beauty, first bloom seedling. I like Brassavola hybrids. I like Schomburgkia hybrids. I like primary hybrids. This hybrid hits all three. This is a cross between Brassavola nodosa and Myrmecophila albopurpurea that I have had since 2017, from H&R nursery, when it was in a little 2” pot. It probably could have bloomed last year (I had a few empty sheaths) but I had been a vigorous grower, so no real complaints. This year, I put it in full sun where it is baked from about 10am until 5pm in southwestern exposure. That makes it one of my more sun tolerant orchids and it also handles my temps when they soar well into the 100°s F.

It’s extremely fragrant in the morning and smells much more pleasant (to me, at least) than the B. nodosa, very floral and sweet. I haven’t checked to see if it’s night fragrant. Eventually this should have a much higher flower count per stem.

[neophyte]

wonderful. interesting how a good amount of the purple patterning occurs on the back of the petals.

[fishmom]

Pretty bloom, and look at those roots! Great growing there.

[SaraJean]

Originally Posted by neophyte

wonderful. interesting how a good amount of the purple patterning occurs on the back of the petals.

I really do like the way the pattern shows up. The closer the flower structures get to the center the more purple spots are on the inside. The further away, the more purple spots are on the back side

Originally Posted by fishmom

Pretty bloom, and look at those roots! Great growing there.

Thank you This thing didn’t really do much until I put it on a mount. I just tied the root ball to the wood and it was pretty secure within a month and started growing in multiple directions. I didn’t take a picture from when I first mounted it in May 2018, but this was taken in October ‘18, so you can see how much progress it’s made in under a year