Cynorkis fastigiata
 

Ah...Cynorkis fastigiata...

For the longest time, I resisted getting this plant, mostly because the way they are described, it sounded like a pest of an orchid that sets seed only to have them be dispersed all throughout the growing area and have random Cynorkis fastigiata seedlings pop up in the pots of other orchids.

What got me to finally give into getting one was the plain and simple fact that it was an inexpensive orchid and I was itching to get something, while keeping in mind I was training myself to grow terrestrial orchids with tuberoids better. I was originally looking for Ponerorchis graminifolia at the orchid show on the vendor's bench, but came across Cynorkis fastigiata instead. So I figured - "Why not?"

Here's a photo of the flower, (forgive the grainy cellphone pic - my SLR camera is inoperable because I lost the battery charger):

Cynorkis fastigiata | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I don't think any photo has ever done this flower justice.

Why?

Because of the really interesting colors on the lip. The edge of the lip is clearly a lavendar color. What people don't realize is that the middle of the lip is actually not white. It only reads as white or a little off-white on the camera, but they are actually a very diffuse color of florescent yellow-green overlaying the white, (It is extremely difficult to describe its beauty and colors).

I have learned to appreciate it's delicate beauty despite it's relatively "weedy" reputation. I definitely do not regret getting one at all.

Ooo! Lovely!

How fascinating! This originally came from Madagascar....it must be a very old orchid that dates back to pre historic age....

Gorgeous, have never seen one.

I like this plant too, despite the fact that it's technically a weed for me, in that I didn't buy or otherwise make any effort to obtain it. It just showed up as a chance volunteer. I never pull seedlings until I know for sure what it is I'm killing, so it wasn't until it flowered that I identified it.

Now I have them in half a dozen spots around the greenhouse, and that's after giving a few away. But I still like it, so I don't ever weed them out.

Steve

The plant is approximately 4 inches across. Each blossom is about 1/2 long. There are anywhere around 7 flowers per spike.

The roots vaguely resemble ginger or mandrake root.

They require a completely dry winter dormancy. My tuberoids are in a bag placed at room temperature.

Very easy to grow.

---------- Post added at 08:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:03 AM ----------

It's possible.

Philip, what media are you using with this species? Also, for winter rest, do you keep it warm?

Hey, Naoki. I goofed with this species. The mother plant died. The tuberoid rotted out shortly after I placed it in a plastic ZipLock bag.

Note to self, lesson learned…don't use ZipLock type bags to store dormant Cynorkis fastigiata tuberoids.

I do have tons of seeds being sown at a lab though.

They're pretty easy to grow.

If I had to do it over again, I'd grow it with sponge rock, coco coir, and some small limestone chunks. Then for dormancy, I'd pull the tuberoid(s) out of the pot and clean it free of as much potting debris as possible, and store it in an empty clear plastic deli container large enough to fit it in with a few 1/4" holes in the lid, (I think the deli container was especially designed for transporting small lizards or snakes and such, maybe fruitflies, I don't recall). It's not necessary to fill the storage deli container with anything. The tuberoids can take it surprisingly dry during dormancy. Dormant tuberoids can rot out easily if they stay even a slight bit moist for too long. If they get a bit too dry, you can just water the tuberoid and put it back in the deli container.

This is basically what I did with Cynorkis angustipetala. Not only did I do what I outlined above with my Cynorkis angustipetala, I just had the deli container with the tuberoid in it in my bedroom on top of my desk with no special set-up. Because I wanted to clean my room up, I placed the deli cup with the tuberoid on a rack in my bathroom. It really didn't care either way, and I imagine Cynorkis fastigiata to be the same way, or at least, it'll probably behave somewhat similarly. I just wanted to clarify that me putting the dormant Cynorkis angustipetala tuberoid in the bathroom was not really a strategic move to grow the orchid properly, it was because I wanted a clean bedroom to sleep in. :lol:

The temperature that I keep the dormant Cynorkis angustipetala in is about 65 F - 75 F, I imagine Cynorkis fastigiata can be treated the same way, or at least, similarly. :)

A few words about when to pull the tuberoid(s) out of the pot…

You can either pull them out of the pot when a large majority of the leaves have died back, and the few remaining leaves are turning yellow despite the stem still staying securely attached to the tuberoid(s), or you may wait until the first opportunity the stem comes off the tuberoids to pull them out, however way the plant behaves first or whichever method you prefer is fine.