How to care for Zygonisia?

[mascia]

Hi everyone,
I went to an orchid garden this week and ended up buying a bunch of orchids I had never seen before. I've been researching on the internet and have found care instructions for all of them, except for this Zygonisia.
It was labeled "Zygonisia Roquebrune x Acacallis cyanea". When I google this name I can find a couple of forum posts but nothing on light, temperature, etc.

Can anyone help me with this one? My main concern is regarding growing temperaturas.

Thank you!

[PaphMadMan]

You plant is called Zygonisia Murasakikomachi (really, I'm not kidding).

Acacallis cyanea is also known as Aganisia cyanea, and that is the name used in hybrid registration.

Zygonisia Roquebrune is (Aganisa cyanea x Zygopetalum Arthur Elle). Zygonisia Murasakikomachi is (Zygonisia Roquebrune x Aganisia cyanea), so your plant is 3/4 Aganisia cyanea.

That means your plant should be treated like Aganisia (Acacallis) cyanea - warm temperature, high humidity, lots of moisture, mounted or in very well aerated media that doesn't stay soggy, low/medium light like Phalaenopsis. The Zygopetalum ancestry means it might appreciate a bit brighter light and tolerate cooler temperature, making it a more adaptable plant than the sometimes finicky Aganisia.

Should be an interesting one. Good luck.

[mascia]

Thank you for the information! I see the Aganisia is native to northern Brazil so they should do just fine in my climate. I get over 2000mm (80 in) of rain yearly and most orchids do really well for me. It's definitely not as hot here as it is in their original habitat, but it's probably warm enough.
The plant is decent sized, so I'm hoping to get blooms in the next couple of months.

[mascia]

This has been a really easy orchid for me. It lost a couple of old leaves but pretty much all of the original roots are still alive.

The first pseudobulb got eaten by snails and it was a few months before it decided to send new ones. Now it is growing in two directions and I finally have spikes!

[PaphMadMan]

It looks like you've got a great plant now that it has settled in. Looking forward to pictures when it flowers.

[Jeff214]

Originally Posted by PaphMadMan

You plant is called Zygonisia Murasakikomachi (really, I'm not kidding).

Must be a purple beauty as the name implies!

[mascia]

Originally Posted by Jeff214

Must be a purple beauty as the name implies!

Ha, interesting! I assumed Murasaki Komachi was the breeder's name or something. I just google translated it and indeed it means purple beauty in japanese

When I bought mine it had no flowers, but strangely enough every couple of months I see it available in grocery stores around here, and they really are unique.

The petals are a blue-ish purple, with no red undertones and it smells like zygopetalums. Can't wait for mine to open, but temperatures are starting do drop here, so I think it will be a while.

[mascia]

I have 9 flowers, still waiting for them to open!

[fishmom]

Long wait! It looks like a healthy, vigorous plant though. It clearly likes where you are growing it!

[estación seca]

I have read Acacallis cyanea plants grow in trees in the Amazon basin. They can be submerged for many days during the flood season, when they are in active growth, with only the flower stalk emerging above the water. This gives you an idea of how much they like water.