Cycnoches Golden Showers

[Bluestar Gardens]

This beauty came to me this past June from White Plains Orchids. It was in bud, but then an aphid attack made the buds drop. It almost immediately set new buds. The fragrance was subtle then. Now, 6 months later, the fragrance fills a room. It’s a floral, almost citrusy smell. Some people describe it as banana pudding, but I don’t really get that. Maybe the sharp scent of un ripe bananas.

Now, I’m not really sure what to do about its winter rest. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Do I wait until the flowers are finished?

[Roberta]

Lovely one!

Cycnoches, Cycnodes, and Mormodes are just about the last Catasetinae at my house to bloom, with or without leaves. If they still have green leaves, I water very lightly, maybe once every week or two, but I'm just about to cut back to zero anyway. Certainly if leaves are gone they pretty much dormant even if still blooming. A bit of water between now and the end of the month should be OK, but by New Years, I'd be inclined to go dry no matter what the plant may be doing.

[Kim in CT]

Hey, I purchased the same orchid (I think... My tag says Cycnoches, not Cycnodes) from the same vendor at about the same time! Mine bloomed in July, then put out another round of flowers in September, and just as I was beginning to reduce watering in November, it put out another spike. Three huge buds are about to open.

I emailed Fred Clarke and asked him whether to continue watering or not, and his response was the same as Roberta's: reduce watering and go dry by New Year's. It looks like your leaves are yellowing so your plant is going dormant on its own. I'm going to savor my last 3 blooms and fingers crossed it will send out a new growth in the spring.

[Roberta]

Looked it up, it actually is Cycnoches ...(Cyc. herrenhusanum x Cyc. chlorochilon)

Kim, you should have no doubt about growth in the spring. Since it was one of the late ones to go dormant, probably will be one of the later ones to sprout in the spring. So don't worry if it doesn't show up until after the Catasetums are well under way, And don't be tempted to start watering too soon. When you see the sprouts, put your hands in your pockets so you are not tempted to water until roots are 3-4 inches (the growth is also a good indicator if you can't see the roots... about the same, with the leaves of the new growth definitely starting to "unroll".) Patience, patience.

[Bluestar Gardens]

Thanks for the info and the correction of my spelling. I fixed the title of the post so it wouldn’t be confusing. Good to know I can cut back on watering. I was afraid th,at would mess with the flowers. I just love the fragrance, especially since some I can’t detect anything from some of my other supposedly fragrant orchids. I’m looking at you Paph delenatii.

[Roberta]

I fixed the thread title to match the post.

[tmoney]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I fixed the threat title to match the post.

is that a threat, roberta?? (or a promise )

anywho, super nice flowers, and sounds like a great grower....but really unfortunate name choice. (sorry, but somebody had to say it)

[Shadeflower]

haha, I was thinking it tmoney.

They could have called it golden show, golden delight, golden rain but just like some american pie movie I vaguely remember watching they pick a name that would make most people smirk hearing it.

I would have called it banana bomb

[isurus79]

Absolutely beautiful!! That’s a nice one!

FYI - Those leaves look like they’ve taken some spider might damage. Is there any chance that’s a current infection? They can take a plant down really quickly during dormancy.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by tmoney

is that a threat, roberta?? (or a promise )

anywho, super nice flowers, and sounds like a great grower....but really unfortunate name choice. (sorry, but somebody had to say it)

fixed it... thread... sorry for bad typing