Cyc. Cholorochilon X Cycd. Jumbo Micky

[dragonfire0528]

Hello, everyone, I just got back from a local orchid show/sale and I picked up one of the above plants.

The grower says that I should grow it under the same conditions as a cattleya, but he said something that I didn't quite understand.

He said something about it growing just once every year. I think that he was talking about it giving one new growth each year, but I wasn't sure and he was too busy to talk more and explain.

Does anyone have any experience with growing this orchid?

Thanks for the anticipated info.........

[Sue]

I think the grower probably was referring to its dormant period. Catasetum/Cycnoches/Clowesia are all slightly different – and I don't remember exactly how – but generally, you let it dry out to a significant degree after it loses its leaves, and keep it either bone dry or water only very occasionally (depending on the genus/species) until it puts out new growth in the spring.

I don't have much experience with them, myself. Hopefully somebody else here can help a little more . . ?

[dragonfire0528]

Hi Sue, thanks for the response! Actually you helped more than you know.

After your post, I did some googling and found that you are right about the orchids going into a dormant period, during which time, they do not recommend watering except for maybe once a month, just as long as the bulbs do not shrivel.

So, it seems that it's not as simple as "growing it just like a cattleya" like the guy said.

But, it's an interesting flower and I'm glad that I got it. Just hope that I can care for it properly.

Thanks again!

[JB_Orchidguy]

If I am not mistaken the Cycnoches are the ones with Male and female flowers. You would need to do a little more research. I know one of those plants does it. I can not remember what combination gives you what, but less light gives you one flower and more light gives you the other. They are different looking flowers too. So much so you can definately see a difference from what I understand. Goodluck with it.

[dragonfire0528]

Oh really? I didn't know that they had different flowers. I'll check more.
That sounds rather strange though.......that would mean that the only way they would pollinate would be from different plants growing in different light conditions........

[Diane]

Check out this thread - -
http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...ead.php?t=3460

[dragonfire0528]

Diane, thanks for the link. I checked it out and it's so interesting to read about the different habits of orchids!

This brings up a couple of questions though............

First of all, if there are male and female flowers, how do you tell which is which?

Second, since I only have the one plant, I have no idea what the other sex flower may look like.......do I move it to a sunnier location and see what happens?

It would be nice to be able to see the difference in the flowers to see which one I liked better (if there is a big difference or not.....)

Thanks to everyone for their input! It's really interesting to learn!

[JB_Orchidguy]

Dragon fly here on the Orchid encyclopedia I found one of the Cynoches that had male and female flower pictures. ITs not the same as yours, but mayeb it will give you some idea. http://www.orchidspecies.com/cyccooperi.htm
the main picture is the male flower and the female flower has a link. I hope this helps. Since yours is a hybred the color may be different but hopefully the general shape of the flower will be the same. I don't know how to get one flower or the other. I don't grow them yet and haven't read much about it. I will try to remember to ask at my next OS meeting if you don't find out before then. Its in Dec. Check out this link too it shows really good male/female flower differentiation. http://www.orchidspecies.com/cycnolehmanii.htm The femal flowers on this one alto look like they have pollin too, but I duno. Take a look.

[dragonfire0528]

JB, thanks for the links! Yes, the color is different, but not that far off from the cycnolehmanii.

I'll try to check around the internet and see if I can get more information on how to get the plant to produce the different types of flowers.

Thanks again..........very interesting!

Just got back from doing a little "google-ing" and I found a couple of articles on cycnoches. They say that the plant will produce both male and female flowers on the same spike. No reference to light conditions.

It also says that you should stop watering and fertilizing until the new lead gets to be 2-3", then to water and fertilize heavily till it flowers...........Ok, now I don't know what to do, since my plant has a large cane that just flowered, but it already has a new lead that is already about 2" long, so should I stop watering or continue to water? Because it is a cross, would that make a difference as to how it should be watered?

[JB_Orchidguy]

I'm not sure on this type of orchid I don;t have one. I would assume continue watering untill it goes dorment and drops all its leaves. Then when the plant starts to grow again resume watering. THats what I hear they do with Cynoches anyways. Again I am about exhosted all the info I have on this one since I have never grown it. I hoep someone else has a better answer for ya. Goodluck.