Cochleanthes aromatica 'Magnifica'

[daemondamian]

Hi folks, for those of you who may have missed it in my newbie intro thread, my Cochleanthes aromatica 'Magnifica' is currently in flower.

Here are the links to the photos which I've put in my orchidboard gallery album:
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...php?photo=4162

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...php?photo=4161

Here is a link to a much bigger macro photo of the bloom in my Photobucket album.
Image of Cochleanthes aromatica 'Magnifica' - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

It has had one bloom that has been open for quite some time and another is on the way. The dorsal sepal and petals open flat but then curl over backwards at the top making the already very big lip an even more dominant feature. The bloom looks nothing like the true species type of C. aromatica.

Additionally it has a very nice intense fragrance

I have it growing in a plastic open basket in sphagnum moss and have repotted it once with fresh sphag. It doesn't have pseudobulbs so the sphag works really well [I don't use sphag on anything else except a jewel orchid cutting]. It receives some weak fertiliser every now and then.

I'm definitely keen on finding other Cochleanthes to grow- especially if they are as easy to grow as this one!

[orcdfrk]

Thats very nice damian. I have cochleanthes amazonica that has struggled pretty much since I got it. Growing in sphag and kept pretty moist, and still not too much activity. Any tips?

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by orcdfrk

Thats very nice damian. I have cochleanthes amazonica that has struggled pretty much since I got it. Growing in sphag and kept pretty moist, and still not too much activity. Any tips?

Thanks orcdfrk, well I may be 'cheating' somewhat in that it grows in my little hobby GH with extra heat and light [from artificial lighting] and also I have big container of water sitting on the floor with an airbubble wand going 24/7 boosting the humidity.

You can see it here:
Study greenhouse update. | Orchids Online
but I've actually moved it outside under the back porch.

Actually that's one thing that could have caused it to flower but also I repotted it into fresh sphagnum and also I had it growing on a lower shelf in fairly heavy shadow [as I read that was a good place for it] but I decided to move it up to where I hang all mounted stuff.. heaps more light/air circulation..

Let's see if I can find a pic. somewhere

Couldn't found a wide shot of the whole GH showing where the mounts are but they are all along one side and the back of the GH.

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...php?photo=4163

Oh yeah and I let the sphag dry out and I might have once put some superthrive in the 10 litre water sprayer I use to water the mounts.

Hope that helps

[smartie2000]

Cochleanthes aromatica 'Magnifica' looks beautiful and very interesting too!

[Shadow]

Very unusual shape. I hope the fragrance is pleasant. Can you describe the fragrance?

[cb977]

Outstanding!

[Lagoon]

Fantastic Damian! I'm thinking about adding one (for now) of these. Do they require any winter rest period??

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by Shadow

Very unusual shape. I hope the fragrance is pleasant. Can you describe the fragrance?

Thanks guys,
yep, I have an old mini 'encyclopedia' book of orchids, which describes the lip as shell-like and if you look at many of the other Cochleanthes the lip is very big and dominant.

I wish I could describe the fragrance, but all I can say is sweet... I know there are some people that can break the fragrance down into different components.. I wish I could do that!

When it first opened the smell reminded me of the mixed perfume of hundreds of assorted orchids in flower, that I experienced at an orchid show and at an orchid fair.

It has changed since though, it now has it's own unique smell.

I know someone who doesn't care about how orchids smell, but for me it is one of the biggest pleasures in growing and blooming orchids

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by Lagoon

Fantastic Damian! I'm thinking about adding one (for now) of these. Do they require any winter rest period??

Thanks Lagoon,
mine didn't need any rest. I did cut back the water in winter though [along with every other plant] to perhaps once a fortnight.

I was watering it more in summer [along with every other plant] but I did let it dry out more in Autumn [because I got lazy ].

[Shadow]

It's good that the smell is pleasant. I want one plant (bulbo echinolabium) so badly.... but I can't get it because of the strong and awful smell.