Some Cyrtopodium love!
 

Hey everyone, I noticed there are so few threads regarding the Cyrtopodium genus. Doesn't seem like they're popular, or maybe it's because they're not that available in greenhouses =/

I'm about to purchase a Cyrtopodium polyphyllum and I was wondering if anyone had some advice regarding its culture.

It seemed pretty similar to Catasetum culture on the internet, but I was looking for some more personal experience :). Anything is welcome, even a picture of a plant you have flowering in your collection!

:bump:

They're not popular in the US, probably because most species have flowers that are almost always yellow and brown. Because of this they're not all that readily available in nurseries here in the US. Which then leads to them not being popular, because, now, not very many people know they even exist. It's a strange cycle. :biggrin:

I don't have personal experience with this genus. I have been toying with the idea of owning one for quite a while though.

True enough regarding their flowers. Thing is, I'm more interested in their magnificent growth and the bulbs afterwards :). Some of them even have red rings on them after losing their leaves, how cool is that!.

I guess I'll go and acquire one for myself and just see how it goes~

Hi Yeri,
I have successfully grown Cyrtopodium andersonii for about 15 years. In the beginning it was growing vigorous. The bulbs grew 80 cm long. Cuts from backbulbs easily made more plants. The development of roots in spring was fantastic. The plant needed really good fertilizing. Only a strong plant flowered, what happened about 2 times in 15 years (before digital photography started). I experienced to add ashes of grass or hay, because I thought of bushfires and that Kalium helps for flower induction. Normally I repotted annually in a bark mix. This was not bad as long as it was carried out annually.
Then because of my profession I didn't find the time for repotting. Suddenly the once so strong plant meagred. I suppose that the roots hated the declined bark, and without roots the mineral supply broke down. Nothing could help to keep it away from dying.
But I loved the plant and its spectacular one meter long branched flower stem with bright yellow flowers.
So I purchased one andersonii again from orchids & more.

Cyrtopodiums have a decided growth cycle with a long dry winter rest. They grow very well under the same conditions as Catasetums. Their leaves also are susceptible to spider mites and need prophylactic spraying.
But Catasetums want to have their roots in water in summer, what I avoid for Cyrtopodium. And I do not recommend a bark mix. Better use a mix of pumice, lava, charcoal and sand (like that for bird cages or aquarium), with a small part of potting soil.
I am growing a Cyrtopodium holstii in this type of mix, there are two plants now and they are doing fine. But they have not flowered yet.
I think that Cyrtopodiums are much more terrestrial than epiphytic plants by nature. Their main center of distribution and diversification are the Brazilian Highlands or Brazilian Central Plateau. Here Lou Menezes has carried out extensive field work.
Orchid News # 7
I have seen Cyrtopodium polyphyllum (syn. paranaense) growing in the sand of the dunes of Santa Catarina, but it takes time to dig the photos up.
Bela Vista had a better selection of Cyrtopodiums upon request. They are not among the most popular plants, but can be extremely showy.I remember only two plants that were brought to our local meetings within 30 years.
Finally 2 photos

Thank you thank you thank you for the elaborate answer! It really shed some light on the genus for me.

I had a feeling it was leaning towards terrestrial rather than epiphytic from the pictures you find when googling them :). From what you describe, they are not the easiest of plants am I right?

I will have to try it in my very fine bark mix though rather than the mix you suggested. Far from wanting to ignore your advice, I try and grow all my orchids in the same type of medium and see how the plants thrive rather than find a specific substrate for the plants.
Might sound like rough treatment sometimes, but as I'm still learning about orchid culture, I get a better understanding of my plants when they're all being kept in the (more or less) same conditions.

Anyway, I am correct going for fine rather than coarse bark mix right? Might be good to add some potting soil though if you think it would benefit the plant!

Flowers would be nice of course, but the plant itself is just magnificent. As long as it "survives", I'll be happy :)

Thanks again for the info, I really felt some love there for those not so popular Cyrtopodiums!

Yéri~

My pictures may give you an impression of the conditions Cytopodium polyphyllum finds in its natural habitat in Santa Catarina.
Now I give the floor to Mahon, answering a question of D&S Mabel
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...m-potting.html
and then to Bud
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...lyphyllum.html
and to Jay Pfahl
IOSPE PHOTOS


I think a well draining medium is important. If you want to grow in fine bark, I recommend to add a lot of granite sand. Another medium that seems well suitable is Kanuma-Akadama, a Bonsai medium.

The proof is always in the pudding. Good luck.

Thank you for the info! Mahon suggests a Cactus Mix as it is well draining and obviously more suited to the genus...
I might have to go for this one. Considering all the advice I've gotten, it seems my idea of growing in fine bark might just be too inappropriate for the Cyrts.

I thank you all for the time you too answering my questions, what seemed to be a lost thread at the beginning ended up in a goldmine of information considering what I knew about the genus :)

Yéri~

My 40+years experience with cytopodium punctuate. I was given a division sooo long ago, it was growing in and on hapu (hawaiian tree fern bark). It stayed in that for about 30 years. This stinker would only put out one surviving growth each time. If it had two, one would rot and once the new growth got established the back bulb would die. This year, after 50 years, I finally was able to make 2 plants. However, one of the two rotted. So I am back to my one plant. It has bloomed twice and the flowers are beautiful green with red spotting. I figured it had to be my culture, I grow dozens of species but this one has been a real challenge. Going to get some cactus mix and s ee if that helps. The pictures posted makes mine look like a plain weakling. If you can get punctatum, I recommend it for the beautiful flower and the challenge of growing the thing.

Euplusia,
How hard do you rest Cyrtopodiums in winter? I purchased punctatum a few months ago that is growing nicely for me and am curious about its treatment during the cold season.

---------- Post added at 06:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:04 PM ----------

Also, how cold do you let them get?