Bnfd. Gilded Tower 'Mystic Maze'

[Shane]

That is a very attractive orchid, i can see how it would get your attention.

[Bill in NYC]

bought one last fall in bloom and is now getting ready to do it again Nice plant if a little too big for cramped space

[zainal abidin]

The first photo especially the labellum remind me the ground orchids oh ya like ophryr. Again another lovely hybrids.

[Kmac]

Zain--I am not familiar with those...I will have to look into them.

[catttan]

Zain--I am not familiar with those...I will have to look into them.

Ophrys flowers resemble insects especially wasps and bees, the males of which attempt to copulate with the flowers, and in the process ,transfer the pollen from one flower to the next. Pollination is thus by a process referred to as pseudo-copulation. Ophrys ae terrestrials found mostly in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia.

However, I think the lip of your Gilded Tower looks more like a combination of Miltonia with the markings of Odontoglossum. It actually reminds me of the lips of certain Odcdm Wildcat.

[Kmac]

Thanks,Yew Sung.

[marcrothenberg]

I just bought a Gilded Tower at an orchid show today. It actually has a double bloom where two blooms fused together when growing from the same node - pretty neat. Any tips on successful growing and reblooming?

[TwoStems]

Way cool!!

[Kmac]

I just bought a Gilded Tower at an orchid show today. It actually has a double bloom where two blooms fused together when growing from the same node - pretty neat. Any tips on successful growing and reblooming?

That fusing things happens sometimes with orchids...it will probably be normal next time it blooms.

No, no special tips...I have treated it just like any other oncidium intergeneric (as much light as it will take without burning, same fertilization, etc) and it has rebloomed nicely this year. 12 blooms instead of 14, but the same large flower size, so I am pretty content. It won a blue ribbon yesterday at our orchid society meeting also, but the real fun was the ohs and ahs over the cool lip. Good luck with yours!

[marcrothenberg]

Thank you Kathi! Congrats on the blue ribbon also! I looked up the parentage of the plant and it is fascinating. This was definitely a splendid find!