While most of us cyp. lovers are lamenting the fact that our prize orchids are five months away from blooming, sometimes 'miracles' do happen:

http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/entrectr/images/macranthos.jpg



This is a gorgeous macranthos alba that broke dormancy in its shipment to me. I potted it up and it is presently in full bloom.

Santa was good to me this year!

Happy New Year!

P.

Miracle indeed! And it is a beauty!:cool:

And Happy New Year !

so very beautiful :clap2:

Perfect gift! Awesome...Happy new year

A wonderful Christmas present!

Wow, Paul, that's a beauty. Will you have trouble keeping it going now, or will it go back into dormancy?

Hi Dot,

I have to make the plant think that it's May and keep it going for four months. I have it growing under a compact florescent bulb with a hot steam humidifier and a fan creating artificial spring!

During this four month period, it will grow new roots and form its buds for the next season. If all goes well, it will turn brown and be dormant by May at which point it will be removed from the pot, put in a baggie, and refrigerated to get it back on schedule.

P.

Amazing! What a gorgeous pure white bloom.:heart:

Lovely crystalline white! I hope you can keep this guy going!

Tom,

You're right! It looks like it was carved from ice. Here are two more shots:

http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/entrectr/images/macranthos1.jpg

http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/entrectr/images/macranthos2.jpg

Stay tuned for the other one. it's about 50% bigger and 2 days away from being fully open!

P.

That is a very beautiful flower - save the pollen!

While it is undoubtedly macranthos the flower has that "open" and compressed look that suggests there is a fair sprinkling of calceolus genes in its family tree. Its ancestors likely originated in northern China/Russia rather than say Japan. It is a real beauty! Its heritage probably means the plant will have a nice upright habit as well. It will be interesting to compare the flower to your known xventricosum's.

Thanks for brightening up the quiet season!

Ron

Awesome pics :cool: ...thnx

I just took this outside in full sun and I think it looks spectacular so I had to post it for everyone to see.

http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/entrectr/images/macranthos4.jpg

I can't believe I'm taking ladyslipper pictures on December 28th!

P.

That is awesome. I have never seen one so beautiful and I especially love the pure white.

Marilyn

Awesome pic...thnx

very very beautiful :heart: :heart: :heart:

Love the pure white pristine flower, very nice!:cool:

Stunning and what a treat for the festive season!

Just like you said, it looks like a pristine white miracle.

Very nice Paul :)
Congratulation !
Ron: If it has calceulus genes is it still a macrantus?
Is it not a ventricosum? or maybe that is only applicable for a 50:50 mix?

BTW where did You get it Paul or is it a secret?

Looking forward to see the second bud :D

Kind regards
Joakim

Joakim, thanks for reminding me to post the 2nd plant to flower. As you can see, it is a slightly different looking flower. The pouch is broader and more upright. This one appears to have less calceolus blood in it:

http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/entrectr/images/bigmamma.jpg

And the third plant (which has 3 flowering stems, each on a different time schedule) is even more different still. This one has a slight flush of purple on the side of the pouch and is about half the size but growing on a taller stem:

http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/entrectr/images/third.jpg

very beautiful :heart: :heart: :heart:

Another nice one! :cool:

Gorgeous! It must be nice to have this little bit of Spring in the dead of Winter. :D

Fantastic pic...:cool:

Nice Paul
Now You have some different types to play with for a creation of a great white. They definite plays around a bit in style. Maybe it is in the "normal variation" or maybe it has to do with the amount of Calceolus in it.
Impressive number of flowers on the plants.
I bet You do not regret buying these plants :)
Thanks for posting the pics.

Joakim

Stunning pictures!