Cynorkis fastigiata

Base Price: $35.00

Intro:
Cynorkis fastigiata is very closely related to habenaria. They can be found on the island of Madagascar. These plants have testicular shaped tubers and are deciduous during the winter months. They are easy to grow and have a habit of doubling in size each year. The small white flowers are tinged in purple on the dorsal sepal and petals. The lip is quadra-partite and spurred. The flowers last for a month and a half to two months. The leaves are wide, somewhat glossy and ribbon like.
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Light:
Medium light from 1500 to 3500 foot candles. East South or West windows are best or under either fluorescent or High pressure sodium fixtures. Grow at 12 to 14 inches from fluorescent tubes and 4 feet from high pressure sodium fixtures.
P.L. Lights systems are a great way to provide artificial light to your orchids. See our P.L. Lights page for more information on this great product we offer.

Temperature:
Intermediate with night temps between 55 and 62 degrees Fahrenheit and days in the 70s to 80s. summer temps can be a few degrees warmer.

Humidity:
50% or higher is ideal. The use of humidity trays or room humidifiers is beneficial.
We offer two products that can help increase humidity levels. The humidity tray offered in black or white, and the Mist Maker. Please click on the underlined text for more information on these products.

Water:
It is best to use rainwater, distilled or reverse osmosis water. Municipal water with a pH of 7.5 or lower can also be used. Water as the mix approaches dryness but do not allow the mix to become completely dry between watering during the growing and flowering seasons. In winter, after the leaves have died back and fallen allow the mix to just dry between waterings. Every two or three weeks should be adequate.
Overwatering can cause several problems such as root rot and infectious bacteria/fungus in the potting medium. One product we offer that can help these problems if caught at an early stage is Phyton 27 bactericide and fungicide.

Fertilizer:
We highly recommend using Green Jungle Orchid Food, especially formulated to work with rain, distilled, reverse osmosis water or water low in alkalinity. Fertilize with Green Jungle every time you water if plants are planted in bark. Be sure to flush the mix with clear water only once per month to prevent fertilizer salt build up. For plants in moss or mounted on slabs feed every third or 4th watering as the moss holds a lot of nutrients.

Or use GrowMore 20-10-20 Ureafree for municipal or well water. Use at the rate of ½ teaspoon per gallon. If using GrowMore with rain, distilled, or reverse osmosis water, add back in 5 - 10% municipal or well water to supply the necessary calcium and magnesium. Fertilize every other watering in the summer and every third watering in the winter.

Another fertilizer offered is: GrowMore 6-30-30 (Cymbidium and bloom boosting formula).

Flowering:
This species flowers in the spring to summer months and as the leaves grow rapidly you will see the spike emerge from the center of the growths. It will reach a height of 12 to 16 inches an will flower over a one to two month period. The flowers are self pollinating and will produce many seed pods.

Repotting:
The best time for repotting is during the winter, dormant season or when the plants are just beginning new growths. New Zealand sphagnum moss is best. The tubers may multiply in time and can either be separated into individual plants or left as interconnected clumps allowing for larger specimens. Be sure that when dormant the correct end of the tuber is facing up. This end has a small brown tip to it.
We offer several different types of potting medium. Here are direct links to what we believe to be some of the best potting mediums available for orchids: Orchids Limited bark mix, New Zealand sphagnum moss, coco husk, coco peat, sponge rock,charcoal, tree fern fiber, osmunda fiber and cork slabs for epiphytic plants.