Ascofinetia Cherry Blossom 'Carmela' Blooming Again

[unhappykat]

Hello All,

This is a very vigorous hybrid I obtained from a flask 5 years ago, sadly this is the only one that did not perish while I was learning to grow seedlings from flask. The plant bloomed its second year out of flask with just one spike and a pair of blooms. Since then each year the plant bloomed just once a year with a single spike, adding more blooms at each cycle.

This plant just finished its last cycle of blooms in August and I was surprised to see what looked like a spike emerging from the base of the plant in December. It threw out 4 more spikes shortly after and they have been developing rapidly as the heat arrived early this year.

Seems to be a bit crowded in bloom habit but it is very showy and has a slight fragrance.

-Edwin

[wintergirl]

Wow, love that!

[katrina]

Beautiful!!

[NYCorchidman]

That is awesome!!!
The strong and beautiful lone survivor!
I think it is finally getting going, but I am surprised it flowered the second year out of flask.

I have two of this bought as near mature size plants two years ago. One of them is working on two spikes, one super tiny with just four flowers and the other one a lot more. The other plant is adding more growths.
The seller told me these are seed grown, so I'm expecting some variation.

I was also told this hybrid is not fragrant, but I would welcome any nice fragrance.

[WhiteRabbit]

Yowza! Fantastic!

[Fairorchids]

The crowded flowers rcome from Ascocentrum ampullaceum. I am finding the same thing, that this type of hybrids bloom once a year, till they reach maturuty. Then they start to bloom more frequently.

I have had the same experience with Neostylis Pinky, which normally blooms Dec/Jan, but is throwing a second spike right now.

[camille1585]

Wow, that's gorgeous!!! So many spikes that the plant can hardly be seen anymore. And impressive that it bloomed only 2 years out of flask, it sounds like a very vigorous hybrid.

[NYCorchidman]

How do you know when it is mature??
I thought once a plant starts to flower, it's considered "mature" size.

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

The crowded flowers rcome from Ascocentrum ampullaceum. I am finding the same thing, that this type of hybrids bloom once a year, till they reach maturuty. Then they start to bloom more frequently.

I have had the same experience with Neostylis Pinky, which normally blooms Dec/Jan, but is throwing a second spike right now.

[Fairorchids]

A mature plant is somewhat larger than a blooming size plant. In the Vandaceous group, you might define it as a plant large enough to start setting basal keikis.

If you go back to the opening post, this plant set progressively larger spikes, and then it got large enough to set multiple spikes.