C. bowringiana - Orchid Board

Brenda Aarts · #1 10-19-2012, 01:53 PM

Well, this species is new to me....but I don't think it's supposed to look like this. The bloom/s look like they are stuck in between the leaves. It can't be normal for this plant can it? Did something go wrong? Got too dry maybe? I won it at our last orchid society raffle, really dont think I've had it long enough to mess it up that badly. Any suggestions are welcomed. Looks to be a perfectly healthy plant other than this. Thanks.

WhiteRabbit · #2 10-19-2012, 07:26 PM

I had a Catt hybrid do this recently. In my case I believe it was from the plant becoming severely dehydrated while the growths were developing. Tho yours doesn't look like that is likely ...

Hopefully others will share options.

silken · #3 10-19-2012, 08:48 PM

I can't say what happened either but I had a Catt. hybrid that I bought in bud and they were on medium length stems. I bloomed it again 9 or 12 months later and they weren't as bad as yours but a lot shorter than the first blooming and really too close to the leaves to look nice. The only thing I could think of was I likely had low humidity compared to the vendor. I should say even the colour was a bit different!

Bud · #4 10-19-2012, 10:37 PM

the spike didnt develop .... it should be ten times longer than what you have in your picture and the flowers must at least have an inch interval apart(I see four or five buds about to open)
use a blade and slit the sheath =maybe the spike is curled under it

Brenda Aarts · #5 10-20-2012, 08:05 AM

Hey Bud, there was no sheath....the buds were just stuck in the leaves. Did some picking this morning and managed to unstick I think. The 2 spikes were all curly and deformed....maybe the two blooms will push out now we'll see. That's everyone for your help. Will keep an eye on it in the future and try to figure out.

tucker85 · #6 10-20-2012, 08:33 AM

"Guatemala and Belize. Plants grow on rocky cliffs and the sides of ravines close to streams with rapidly moving water. Most often they are found where the air is charged with moisture." Charles Baker

C. bowringiana grows very well outdoors in the hot, humid, rainy South Florida. I don't know if it would be more difficult to flower in cooler climates. I would give it another year and see if you get better blooming next year.