Stairway to Heaven in Spike

[Heather]

Progress thread. Had about a year now. From Ecuagenera. The wallisii x humboldtii ‘Fortuna’ cross. I actually bought this by mistake. Meant to buy the humboldtii ‘Fortuna’ species. Mostly I wanted this plant because my husband grew up in Fortuna, CA in Humboldt county so of course I had to have it! I’m hoping he might get a little more interested in these guys when it blooms.

I will say he seems to enjoy the plants overall but doesn’t seem to distinguish between blooming plants and non-blooming ones.

Anyway, excited to have this bloom. Hopefully more than one flower? It’s exciting to be back to this a year now and know I’m doing something right!

 

[Heather]

Coming along…

 

[Jmoney]

keep the humidity up when the petals unfurl!

 

[Heather]

Today’s update…

 

[Heather]

All the three are open; petals still growing…

 

[troy]

Wow it looks great!! Pictures don’t do it justice, looks like the tag is right imo

 

[NYEric]

Nice.What does your husband think?

 

[Heather]

Just about done growing. Petals are at 44cm.

 

[Morja]

Those are spectacular petals!

 

[hkunberger]

Wow! That is gorgeous!

 

[hkunberger]

I don’t know what it is about ling petals but they are so thrilling!

 

[southernbelle]

I don’t know what it is about ling petals but they are so thrilling!

I thought so, too until I had a hard time blooming them and killed a couple…

 

[hkunberger]

I have that same feeling about some orchids. Cattleyas all but run from the room when I walk in.

 

[Heather]

I’ve found these to be pretty easy both times I’ve grown them, similar conditions, both East/South/West facing windows. The one issue is that these guys really are prone to more rot, in fact, this one arrived with rot, and I lost that growth so I do not tend to sit these in the water, like I do all my other besseae hybrids. I also wouldn’t order them from across the country next time around.