The Orchid Garden

Need Info for Zygopetalum and other recent Hawaiian finds

Question:

I too have an oncidium that hasn’t bloomed since I got it almost 2 years ago. It’s got nice fat pseudbulbs and aggressive aerial roots. It’s looking quite wild and woolly. Who knows, maybe this is the year…

they seem to like pretty bright light.  mine didnt bloom too well until I slowly moved them into a higher light. By the way, that reminds me, what is the official name for "Nun’s Orchid?" I have one that didn’t bloom last year despite my best efforts.

Phaius tankervilliae.  if this is the "nun orchid"  you are speaking of—large, broad, pleated, thin light green leaves… go easy on the light—they "sunburn" very easily.  direct sun only the early morning and dappled shade ought to do it.  mine is spiking now.  I started the bloom booster fert in November. hope this helps Alynne

Response:

I have recently acquired three new plants while on vacation in Hawaii. RF 141  Zygopetalum Macyeii  (it has a most divine fragrance!) and stayed in bloom for 6 weeks.

The Bakers include this orchid in their free culture sheet listing. Here’s the URL: http://www.teleport.com/~cmbaker/COD/FREE/FS250.html I just bought one myself (well, it’s a zygo hybrid.) A wonderful hyacinth-like smell indeed. A little strong however <g. I’m a bit pissed because it wasn’t tagged with anything but a grower number. The greenhouse called the grower though and got me the info, which I’ve promptly lost <chuckle. It’s been in full bloom for close to a month now. I figure I’ve got another couple of weeks left. Stinks up the whole house. I’m looking forward to enjoying it in the time to come. I too have an oncidium that hasn’t bloomed since I got it almost 2 years ago. It’s got nice fat pseudbulbs and aggressive aerial roots. It’s looking quite wild and woolly. Who knows, maybe this is the year… This past year was a tough summer for my phals. Way too hot in general. I’m hoping that some of the most affected will survive but I’ve got my doubts. By the way, that reminds me, what is the official name for "Nun’s Orchid?" I have one that didn’t bloom last year despite my best efforts. It’s got good leaf growth and the bulbs are in good shape. I’m hoping for a better year this year (I suspect that the temps weren’t the problem but the partial shade that it was in. This year, it’s going out in the front yard…) I have been keeping the above three with my phals and oncidinae in the bathroom. Can  anyone give me any info for their care? Also suggestions on the best place to keep them.

The Bakers suggest that you should keep it with your cymbidium.

Response:

T-1578 Bc. Maikai ‘Mayumi’  only bloomed about 4 weeks (I’m not sure, may be Cattleya family?)  {snip} I have been keeping the above three with my phals and oncidinae in the bathroom.

I cant tell you about the others, but the Bc. Makai ‘Mayumi’ is in the catt group–needs pretty bright light (at least mine does) and doesnt seem to tolerate over watering or water sitting on the leaves.  I keep mine in a clay pot with aliflor pebbles–tipped sideways to make sure that the water runs off the leaves–southern exposure with bight and direct light in the early am and dappled shade the rest of the day.  seems to work.  if it rains a lot, I bring it in the house . hope this helps. Alynne

Response:

I am a recent orchid enthusiast and have had exciting results with my cybids for the past 3 years. I live in zone 10 and keep them on my open, semi-shaded front porch all year round. My pride and joy is a 24in dia. chocolate cybid that has just spiked for the second time this year. I have counted 19 spikes so far!    I also have a couple of phals and  oncidinae that I keep in my bath-tub on humidity trays.. They receive natural light form a south-westerly window. There is no heating in the bathroom. The room and gets warmth from the sun and central heating from the house when the door is left open. I keep the bathroom door closed at night and it gets quite cool at night.  They have been surviving well these past 3 years with new growth and roots, but have not re-bloomed. I have recently acquired three new plants while on vacation in Hawaii. RF 141  Zygopetalum Macyeii  (it has a most divine fragrance!) and stayed in bloom for 6 weeks. T-1578 Bc. Maikai ‘Mayumi’  only bloomed about 4 weeks (I’m not sure, may be Cattleya family?) Mtdm. Pupukea Sunset   Beautiful blooming miniature (maybe oncidinae family?) I have been keeping the above three with my phals and oncidinae in the bathroom. Can  anyone give me any info for their care? Also suggestions on the best place to keep them. Thanks! Debra

Response:

Debra – That monster Cymbidium sounds spectacular.  Any idea of its name? I live in Southern California, near the coast.  My zygos live outside, with the Cymbidiums.  They need a bit more shade… I tuck them in behind the Cyms, so that they get protected from the direct sun a bit. (I think the ideal amount of light is just short of buning leaves… I have cooked  a few, but the plants seem to be OK and they bloom well.  I am finally figuring out, I think, how to keep them from getting fried). If your phals and oncidiums are growing well but not blooming, maybe not getting enough light.  (Soulds a little cool for the Phals, too) I have found that the phals need supplemental light (more hours). And the oncidiums do fine outside.  My Blc Makai ‘Mayumi’ just bloomed for me (after a couple of years of sulking).  It seems to sunburn easilly – I try to keep it out of drect sun..  It lives outside most of the time, too.  (May be a little chilly… now that it is blooming, I may keep it in for the winter),.I had a Mtdm Pupukea Sunset that  did not survive… so I won’t try to give advice on that one. You may want to check out my website, where I describe the conditions for the various orchids I grow.  Then you can compare with your conditions, and maybe get some ideas, since your environment sounds rather similar to mine. Roberta — http://rlfox.tripod.com

Response:

Hi Roberta, Thanks for your help!  I too live in So. Cal (Santa Monica) and, after seeing your orchid collection, I have been really inspired! I had no idea so many varieties can be grown without a greenhouse. Your site is really great! I just recently started collecting with earnest.  It really started because of the luck I have had with the monster cymbidium.   I got it from a friend, who’s neighbor had an orchid that he was bored with. He  didn’t want it anymore, it needed repotting and hadn’t been blooming.  All I had to do was wrestle it from a very ornate urn, and it was mine!  I placed it in a large "muck bucket"  with wholes drilled in the bottom, along with some landscaping bark. Not really knowing about orchids, I gave it some miracle grow, dragged it up on my porch, intending one day, to find out how to separate it.  A few weeks later it started blooming with 15 spikes, and I  have since left it alone to minimal care. It is now over- growing the muck bucket and heavily spiked. The only name I remember him calling it was "Chocolate Cymbidium". It does have a citrucy, vanillaish scent and I think looks similar to your cym-tracyanum picture.   I have a family picture of it when it first bloomed for me: http://community-1.webtv.net/CULINARYARTISTS/DadandOrchidsAug97 Maybe you will know what type it is? I will take another, more recent, when the blooms open. Thanks again for your help, Debra

Response:

Debra, What a story and what a plant!  Your dad looks so proud.  I’d like to take this opportunity to volunteer to help when you decide to divide and repot it.  :)  To be honest, I don’t have any experience with dividing cymbidiums either but I’ll bet we could figure something out.  Just let me know when.  :) Thanks, Valerie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Roberta, Thanks for your help!  I too live in So. Cal (Santa Monica) and, after seeing your orchid collection, I have been really inspired! I had no idea so many varieties can be grown without a greenhouse. Your site is really great! I just recently started collecting with earnest.  It really started because of the luck I have had with the monster cymbidium. I got it from a friend, who’s neighbor had an orchid that he was bored with. He  didn’t want it anymore, it needed repotting and hadn’t been blooming.  All I had to do was wrestle it from a very ornate urn, and it was mine!  I placed it in a large "muck bucket"  with wholes drilled in the bottom, along with some landscaping bark. Not really knowing about orchids, I gave it some miracle grow, dragged it up on my porch, intending one day, to find out how to separate it.  A few weeks later it started blooming with 15 spikes, and I  have since left it alone to minimal care. It is now over- growing the muck bucket and heavily spiked. The only name I remember him calling it was "Chocolate Cymbidium". It does have a citrucy, vanillaish scent and I think looks similar to your cym-tracyanum picture. I have a family picture of it when it first bloomed for me: http://community-1.webtv.net/CULINARYARTISTS/DadandOrchidsAug97 Maybe you will know what type it is? I will take another, more recent, when the blooms open. Thanks again for your help, Debra

Response:

Filed under: Cymbidium Orchids

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