Thursday, November 20, 2008

Cycnoches Jumbo Puff (Swan Orchids)



























Ah, the swan orchids are flowering again. For a short period of time during November, our greenhouse is filled with jasmine like fragrance of MC1301 Cynoches Jumbo Puff, a primary hybrid of two specie warscewiczii and Mor. badia.These plants grow vigorsly during spring and summer. As soon as the weather cools off, its elongated leaves started to die back. The grower would stripe off its leaves to show off its newly developed robust pseudo bulb. Each bulb can carry 2-3 spikes. They are grown in a pot at Norman’s Orchids, but they can be grown successfully mounted on cork. The common name of this genus arose because the slender column and down turned apex resemble a swan.