Rhynchostylis retusa x coelestis flowered after 3 years!

[flexdc]

First flowering after 3 years! I was about to chuck it.
Finally figured out that it really is a warm grower. Although it has coelestis in it, it dislike our Cymbidum temps. I now grow it in a plastic mini-green house, the ones that you see on amazon, with a micro radiator for heating in our winter, which can drop below 50F/10C. With the heater, min is around 65F/18C or so in winter.
I am growing this in S/H in a plastic container with clay hydroton, which allows me to water 2 to 3 times per week during the summer and once a week during winter. I wish there was another S/H container that is prettier.

This orchid has a very pungent scent. To me it smells like ginger +lemon + 409 cleaning spray!

Flower close ups:






The whole plant in S/H container:
http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/...psk52orssh.jpg



Enjoy,
Andrew

[Bud]

Beautiful spotted flowers....I am glad you put it in a warmer place....with lots of sun. I will follow your S/H culture on this kind of orchid plant....I have the spotted (that just rebloomed), peach, white, red and orange....I would like to try the S/H method on one of my plants....

[flexdc]

Originally Posted by Bud

Beautiful spotted flowers....I am glad you put it in a warmer place....with lots of sun. I will follow your S/H culture on this kind of orchid plant....I have the spotted (that just rebloomed), peach, white, red and orange....I would like to try the S/H method on one of my plants....

Bud,
This plant never reacted badly to S/H, and I guess is because of our dry climate.

Andrew

[WhiteRabbit]

Beautiful!

[Fairorchids]

I am 99.999% certain, that this is a straight Rhynchostylis gigantea. I base this on:

Plant structure is defintely gigantea (leaves are much too wide for either of the other species).

Retusa has tiny spots, and coelestis has none. Bold pattern is typical of some of the newer giganteas.

Coelestis sets 20-40 flowers on upright spike, and retusa hundreds of small flowers on pendant spike. Flowers pictured are impossible for a retusa x coelestis cross. Short curved spike is typical of a first bloom gigantea.

For reference, here are photos of coelestis, gigantea, and retusa, showing both foliage & flower spike on all 3.

[Fairorchids]

And, here is another photo of a 1st bloom seedling, which I bought because of the good markings on the flowers. Notice similarity?

[flexdc]

Hello Fairorchids thank you for the info. I am very mystified too because this plant resents the cold, it won't flower. As soon as I give it some warmth it sent out this.spike.

[Fairorchids]

Originally Posted by flexdc

Hello Fairorchids thank you for the info. I am very mystified too because this plant resents the cold, it won't flower. As soon as I give it some warmth it sent out this.spike.

Rhy gigantea grows, and blooms, well under Cattleya conditions. However, they do not like night temps below 50-55°F. Also, they need to reach a certain size before they will bloom. Yours is just barely blooming size.

[flexdc]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

Rhy gigantea grows, and blooms, well under Cattleya conditions. However, they do not like night temps below 50-55°F. Also, they need to reach a certain size before they will bloom. Yours is just barely blooming size.

Hey Fairorchids
When this orhcid was purchased about 7 years ago, it was in full bloom and it bloomed on and off in those years. Surely it is mature no?

[tarev]

Lovely blooms! Good for you finding what it likes!