Our magnificent Coryanthes bruchmülleri has been flowering regularly since it reached maturity last summer. C. bruchmülleri is the Goliath of the genus, with flowers four to five inches in diameter.
Coryanthes bruchmülleri grows in lowland wet forests near the border of Colombia and Venezuela. In the wild, Coryanthes are typically found growing in ants' nests in a mutualistic relationship with the ants. It's not uncommon to read that Coryanthes are difficult to cultivate, perhaps lacking something provided in nature by the ants. In our greenhouses, without ants, they are no more difficult than any other member of the Stanhopeinae, provided you can exclude the slugs and bush snails that consume the roots and new shoots. Our tactics: frequent repotting, applications of diatomaceous earth, and eliminating the source of new introductions -principally orchids from Hawaii. I'm happy to report that we've got a capsule gestating on one of our plants. It will be terrific to get this fantastic species in production.
Recent Posts
Friday, September 20, 2019
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
Now opening: Coryanthes macrantha
Posted by
Becky Brinkman
We are very fortunate to have a mircro prop lab to allow us to produce orchid seedlings. Coryanthes are somewhat weedy in the sense that they reproduce rapidly. They have a very short capsule maturation (60 days), produce copious quantities of seed and robust, fast growing, fast flowering seedlings.
After they outgrow the plug stage, our Coryanthes seedlings grow best on vertical mount, rather than in a pot or basket. Tree fern slabs have worked well for us, but last year, in an attempt to wean ourselves from our tree fern dependency, we tried a new slab material: coarse filter media, borrowed from our aquarium colleagues.
Filter media isn't a good choice for every orchid, but the Coryanthes love it. Within a couple of months, their roots completely fill the interior spaces of the slab.
We are super excited to have more of these fascinating orchids on display for you to see. Look for them this year in the Orchid Display House!
Thursday, March 28, 2019
Where are all the labels?
Posted by
Becky Brinkman
Lycomormium squalidum |
To find out the name of one of the orchids in our permanent collection, you'll have to look a bit closer for the data card, one of which is pictured above. In most cases the data card is wired to the pot, or, if the orchid is in the ground, wired to stake. The data card will tell you the genus, species, accession number, source and nativity for that particular plant. In addition, many of our plants have a handwritten white vinyl label, which gives us a place for additional notes.
And remember, you can always ask one of us! Sarah, Derek and I are always happy to answer your questions.
Thursday, June 21, 2018
A Summer Tour
Posted by
Becky Brinkman
Good morning! Ready for an early walk through the Fuqua Orchid Center? Those of you who are buckling under the summer heat can head straight to the High Elevation House to cool off. Everyone else, follow me. As we enter the Orchid Atrium you can see our wonderful new collection of Italian terracotta containers, donated this spring by Hill Street Warehouse. (Thank you, Hill Street!) As a centerpiece for the tall pots I chose some magnificent Grammatophyllum 'Broga Tiger' with 4' spikes of leopard-spotted flowers. Their soft olive hue is nicely complemented by the arching pink Phalaenopsis. On the trellis in the background, Wilsonara Space Mine 'Red Rendezvous'.
In the Orchid Display House, hybrid cattleyas appear under a bower of dainty Oncidium phymatochilum flowers.
Above the Reflection Pond are hybrid Vanda orchids. The indigo hybrids must be the most photographed of all of our orchids. The vandas, at least, are loving the summer suana that is Atlanta.
Be sure to stop and linger over the ultra sweet fragrance of Encyclia cordigera.
A closer look at Encyclia cordigera reveals a skirt-like lip of rich magenta. Notice, also the plum colored ribbons that are the petals and sepals. They look like they've been curled with a pair of scissors. We grow our plants bright and dry in a warm greenhouse. E. cordigera grows as an epiphyte at low elevations, often in dry scrubby habitats, in Mexico and Central America.
Another plant thriving and flowering in summer is Phalaenpsis bellina. The flowers are well-known for their delicious fragrance -like a summer smoothie with citrus and vanilla. Welcome, summer!
And don't forget, if you can't make it early, we are open until 9:30 every Thursday night through September for Cocktails in the Garden.
In the Orchid Display House, hybrid cattleyas appear under a bower of dainty Oncidium phymatochilum flowers.
Above the Reflection Pond are hybrid Vanda orchids. The indigo hybrids must be the most photographed of all of our orchids. The vandas, at least, are loving the summer suana that is Atlanta.
Be sure to stop and linger over the ultra sweet fragrance of Encyclia cordigera.
A closer look at Encyclia cordigera reveals a skirt-like lip of rich magenta. Notice, also the plum colored ribbons that are the petals and sepals. They look like they've been curled with a pair of scissors. We grow our plants bright and dry in a warm greenhouse. E. cordigera grows as an epiphyte at low elevations, often in dry scrubby habitats, in Mexico and Central America.
Another plant thriving and flowering in summer is Phalaenpsis bellina. The flowers are well-known for their delicious fragrance -like a summer smoothie with citrus and vanilla. Welcome, summer!
And don't forget, if you can't make it early, we are open until 9:30 every Thursday night through September for Cocktails in the Garden.
Monday, June 18, 2018
Early Summer
Posted by
Becky Brinkman
May and June are two of my favorite months in the Orchid Center. It's a photographer's paradise. Because we're inside a greenhouse, the 'golden hour' for photography, in which light assumes that uniquely warm and glowy quality, tends to occur only in certain corners at certain times of year when the early morning sun is unobstructed. Nevertheless, the light is almost always soft and diffuse and completely camera-ready.
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Polycycnis muscifera
Posted by
Becky Brinkman
Polycycnis are not at all common in cultivation, so be sure to stop by and catch ours in flower!
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Anguloa cliftonii
Posted by
Becky Brinkman
Not only is it one of the loveliest anguloas, it's also one of the heftiest. A mature plant can produce a pair of leaves that are two feet long atop a five inch pseudobulb. As you can see, the new shoot on our plant gives promise of massive growth later in the season.
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Orchid Daze 2018
Posted by
Becky Brinkman
Pansy Orchids and Moth Orchids in the Fuqua Conservatory Lobby |
Pansy Orchid (Miltoniopsis) |
Arches of Dancing Lady Orchids (Odontocidium) |
The Orchid Atrium of the Fuqua Orchid Center |
A towering display of orchids and carnivorous plants in the Orchid Atrium |
Dtps. Surf Song 'Kumquat' |
Nepenthes Ventrata (alata x ventricosa) on the vertical walls in the Orchid Atrium |
Vanda hybrids on hanging geometric forms in the Orchid Display House |
Come see Orchid Daze 2018! The show runs through April 8.