Cycnoches (Species and Hybrids) genera, awards, species checklist, slideshow, etc.
'The Swan Orchid' can be divided into two categories. In the eu-Cycnoches section, the male (staminate) and female (pistillate) flowers resemble each other closely. In the heteranthe section, the male and female flowers are distinctly different in the lip form and appear to be separate species. Both male and female flowers are attractive though the female flower often has larger segments. |
Cycnoches are susceptible to rot. The pseudobulbs last two or three years. These grow and flower their first year, produce another pseudobulb the next, and gradually completely decline by the end of their third year. The growths are
sympodial with very large, thick pseudobulbs covered in a layer of paper and with a spray of large veined leaves mostly near the top of the pseudobulb.
After flowering, the leaves drop and the plant requires a dry rest until beginning to grow again until new roots are three to five inches long. Many orchidists repot these orchids during the dry rest, often dividing the plant so that there is one pseudobulb per pot. These plants have unisexual flowers, meaning male and female flowers occur on separate plants and
occasionally on the same spike of a plant. The sex of flower may be induced by temperature and light intensity but there are many theories on this. One to a few spikes per pseudobulb and several flowers on each are the norm. The more
mature plant with larger pseudobulbs will produce more flowers. Since the pseudobulbs only last three years, it will be difficult to produce a specimen plant. These plants grow best with intermediate to warm temperatures, 70-80°F
(21-27C) during the day and 10-15°F (6-8C) cooler at night.
sympodial with very large, thick pseudobulbs covered in a layer of paper and with a spray of large veined leaves mostly near the top of the pseudobulb.
After flowering, the leaves drop and the plant requires a dry rest until beginning to grow again until new roots are three to five inches long. Many orchidists repot these orchids during the dry rest, often dividing the plant so that there is one pseudobulb per pot. These plants have unisexual flowers, meaning male and female flowers occur on separate plants and
occasionally on the same spike of a plant. The sex of flower may be induced by temperature and light intensity but there are many theories on this. One to a few spikes per pseudobulb and several flowers on each are the norm. The more
mature plant with larger pseudobulbs will produce more flowers. Since the pseudobulbs only last three years, it will be difficult to produce a specimen plant. These plants grow best with intermediate to warm temperatures, 70-80°F
(21-27C) during the day and 10-15°F (6-8C) cooler at night.
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