28 SUPPLEMENT TO OCTOBER 2012 ORCHIDS WWW.AOS.ORG GROWING CYCNOCHES AS MOTHER NATURE WOULD TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY FRED CLARKE Sunset Valley Orchids, 1255 Navel Place, Vista, California 92081 (email [email protected]; website www.sunsetvalleyorchids.com) CYCNOCHESIS A GENUS OF AP- proximately 34 species native to tropical America. The flowers are swan shaped and cascade down on pendulous inflores- cences of 7–30 blossoms, depending on the species. Closely related genera include Catasetum, Mormodes and Clowesia . Their unique flowers, method of pollination, growth habit and dormancy period make these remarkable orchids and excellent plants for the hobbyist. Cycnocheshave a well-defined growth and rest periods each year. Understandi ng how the weather influ- ences their annual growth and flowering cycle will make you a better grower and lead you to awe-inspiring floral displays. One of the most interesting things about Cycnochesis that the flowers are sexually dimorphic. This is where a single plant can produce flowers that are either male or female. In my experience, flower sex is determined by the environment. Plants that are mature and receive the right amount of light, moisture and fertilizer are more likely to produce female flowers. Plants that are small and are grown in low light or extremely bright light are most likely to bloom male. The reason for this may relate to the plant’s resources. It takes a lot of energy for a plant to hold and mature a seed capsule through the dormant period of winter, and it makes sense that the largest plants growing in the best locations would produce female flowers. Cycnochesplants have adapted in nature to growing where there is a wet summer followed by a dry winter period. The plants begin their growth cycle dur- ing the lengthening days of spring and are in active growth during the wet summer months. Flowering begins with the onset of shortening days and diminishing rains in the autumn. In winter, with short days, cool nights and an end to the rains, the plants prepare for do rmancy by dro pping their foliage. This is the plant’s adaptation to conserve moisture and survive until spring. Few orchid plants go through such a dramatic change based on strongly sea- sonal conditions, but once you understand these requirements and adjust your culture accordingly, Cycnocheswill become some of the most rewarding orchids in your collection. A SEASON-BY-SEASON GUIDE As with all orchids, closely duplicating the 1 3 2 [1] CycnochesRichard Brandon ‘Nice Dif- ferent’ (warscewiczii× Jean E. Monnier). Grower all plants: Fred Clarke/Sunset Valley Orchids. [2] CycnochesRichard Brandon ‘Sunset Valley Orchids’. [3] CycnochesRichard Brandon ‘Sunset Val- ley Orchids’, female.
GROWING CYCNOCHES AS MOTHER NATURE WOULD text and photographs by FRED CLARKE
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7/17/2019 GROWING CYCNOCHES AS MOTHER NATURE WOULD
The American Orchid Society wouldlike to thank the donors whose generos-
ity made publication of this supplement possible.
The authors’ willingness to share theirexpertise is greatly appreciated as is the photographers who kindly allowed theirwork to be printed in this supplement aswell as the growers whose flowers andspecimens are showcased are equallyvalued. Wes Higgins, PhD, a member ofthe Society’s Publications Committee,assisted with proofreading as did ArleneMaguire, also a member of the Publica-tions Committee. John Wrench, advertis-ing manager, aided in the scanning and
detailed preparation of images. — Editor.
FRED Clarke owns and operates Sunset Valley Orchids, which is
dedicated to developing hybrids and producing select species for
the orchid enthusiast. He has been growing orchids for 35 years and
hybridizing for 30 of those years. He is a passionate orchid grower
whose curiosity in orchids is broad and varied. Most recently, he
produced the grex, Fredclarkeara After Dark ( Mo. Painted Desert
× Ctsm. Donna Wise), which produced “the blackest flower ever
witnessed.” This grex has received eight First Class Certificates,
eight Awards of Merit and the coveted Award of Distinction on the
Center Alvin MooreLakshi NarayanaLaura NewtonDavid NickersonBarbara NoePacific Orchid Society
of HawaiiEdgardo PaunetoPatricia PerlsteinRobert PettiboneAndreas Pratter Oscar Sanchez GomezRobert Scully Jr.Alexandra ShepherdShining SeaInvestmentsMichael Sielaff Frank and TaylorSlaughter William Suddaby
Sunset Valley OrchidsTomasz Szewerniak Peggy TanMax Thompson andBryon RinkeBarbara UngersmaJuan Valdez JuarezBarbara Van der StoepPeter Volkmar Hung Yu WangDavid Waller