Understanding Coryanthes

[islaverde]

Do all Coryanthes go dormant even when in their native habitat, or when conditions continue to favor growth?

I got a Coryanthes leuococorys that has lost ALL its leaves, and despite that, has now put out a spike! weird. The Cory grown next to it, Coryanthes huntleya is still happily growing with nice green leaves.

I try to grow them wet; from what I read from the internet. One of them is literally swimming in a wad of wet sphagnum moss!

[Gin]

Hi I have a few of them Coryanthes picturata , ,Coryanthes leferenzianum ,Coryanthes alborosea ,Coryanthes fieldingii . I have heard they go dormant , but none of these have , they do lose some of the old leaves but not all . I did lose one due to keeping it to wet .
Mine are in slat baskets with slats removed only have 2 slats on the bottom they are in /on a mound of Spag . watered in the am . If they are getting dry .If over cast and gloomy /raining out , then not .
Since I don't have the one you do I can't say if it is one that goes dormant , I have read the same info.that you have .. confusing ... . Gin

[Shadow]

I heard that they don't get dormant. I have one - speciosa - for about a year, and it is always growing.

[Manfred Busche]

Subject: Understanding Coryanthes.
Hello there.
I have some 20 plants and, furthermore, have read
the monograph of the genus by Dr. Gerlach.
I am trying to contribute to the subject as follows.

------------- Coryanthes need warmth -------------

(a) In nature Coryanthes grow symbiotic with ants, lots
.....of ants, which ants maintain their root system.
(b) In cultivation you and me should make sure that
.....the compost is ...
(c) acidic (PH4), loose, moist and fertile at all times;
.....hence it appears a good idea to use best-quality
.....Sphagnum (mixed with 'Perlite' for looseness).
This compost must not be PRESSED into the plant's
pot or basket -to get in as much as possible, as it
were- because "looseness" is what the plant needs.
>>>Renew this compost every 1 year (!) - because
.... decomposed Sphagnum is neither acidic nor loose,
.....and the plant will shed it's leaves and die slowly ...
(d) Keep the compost moist at all times, not WET, and
.....fertilise with 140 ppm every day, using mineral salts,
.....something like PETER's - but nothing organic (BAD).
(e) I have read on these pages that people add things
.....like Lemmon Juice, Epsom Salts, Dish Soap, when
.....watering : >>> "PLEASE DO NOT" ...
(f) Light: as much as the plant can stand, but adapt
....the plant to higher light levels over several weeks;
....target: direct morning sun until 10 a.m. is good ...
....Fertilise in the morning when there is plenty of light.
(g) Leaves gone yellow: change compost, give water
.... but do not fertilise until a new leaf shoot shows.
Regards, MANFRED.
PS: Flowers of Coryanthes, Catasetum, Stanhopea,
......are wonders of Plant Evolution ...
To admire Coryanthes Flowers, you might go to
Botanical Garden Munich - Research - The Genus Coryanthes

[Gin]

Thank You for the information, it is very much appreciated .
Gin

[Stasisgate]

I had a coryanthes for a few years and it finally decided to flower but it dropped 3/4 of all the leaves it had. It's a coryanthes macrantha and i never heard of one do that before.

It was initially growing in drier conditions but since I changed media and watering it has grown into a giant specimen. Could the dropping of the leaves be related to disease or habit?

[Manfred Busche]

Hello.
Coryanthes macranta is not deciduous, if well maintained.
A plant not well maintained will die slowly, over several weeks...
First the leaves will fall, then the bulbs will dry-up one by one...

[Stasisgate]

It has over 30 bulbs, 1 foot leaves, never flowered before and this all happened within the last month. The plant has stopped dropping the leaves and has pushed out 4 spikes.

But does anyone know if Coryanthes macrantha is deciduous?

[Stasisgate]

Hmmm... the thing is Manfred, some of the leaves dropped, but the bulbs and roots are healthy.