Mormodes |
Mormodes is an interesting genus of small-moderately sized plants that produce fragrant flowers on upright racemes. Mormodes are related to Catasetums and Cycnoches, and while easy to grow and bloom, require a distinct resting period, once the bulb is made up and the deciduous leaves are lost. They enjoy moderately bright-bright light, warm-intermediate temperatures, and good air movement. They grow well in clay pots with moss or plastic pots with a seedling bark (Paph) mix. According to Dr. Robert Dressler, there are seven species of Mormodes found in Panama. We believe there are several more that have either not been cataloged as being found in Panama, or are new to science.
Catalog Codes: Plant Size: S=seedling (3-5" leaf span), LS=large
seedling (6+ leaf span), NBS=near-blooming size, BS=blooming size,
MC=mericlone, D=division, MT=mounted
Plant Culture Codes:
What You May Expect From the Plants We Ship:
Although we sell only nursery-grown divisions or seedlings, the fact that they are shipped from Panama may result in the need to reestablish the plants here in the U.S. In many cases, we do this for you. In other cases, freshly imported plants sent to you may need a little special care initially to get them growing well under your growing conditions. Mounted plants grown in Panama may arrive on our "artifcial logs" (dreamed up by Lynn) which allows us to import plants that will suffer greatly from being cut from their mounts (which we can not import, as most are wood or forest products). Orchids cultivated in pots or dug up from Maduro's 20 acre orchid garden (for example, Sobralias) must be shipped bare root (that is with no potting material), so the plants may be inspected. This is ususally done by the use of net bags filled with fresh moss surrounding the roots (again, thanks to Lynn's great idea). This allows the plants to begin the establishment and rerooting process, as soon as they arrive, and even before we pot them!
When you receive freshly imported plants or plants sent to you bareroot, you should pot the plants into a clean pot with fresh growing medium. We have found that long-strand sphagnum moss (available from your local orchid supply company) is ideal for the first 6-10 months. Use a plastic pot that is just large enough to comfortably contain the root ball and have room for moss to be added. It is important that the moss be wet when you are potting the orchid (dry moss will absorb water, swell, and suffocate the new roots. Pack the moss in loosely, but firmly enough to support the plant (tall plants may need to be tied to a stake for support). Water thoroughly, and the place the plant in a humid position in your growing area. If leaves were damaged in trasit, they may be removed with a sharp CLEAN knife. Do not reuse the knife on other plants until it has been cleaned again (single edge razor blades from the paint store work very well!). If a ding or scratch results in the start of a rot, treat the plant with a fungicide.
To help guide your expectations for specific plants we offer, we are instituting the following codes for guidance:
Mormodes dressleri - (Panama) Recently described. Beautiful, similar to skinneri with more golden blooms.
Lip pale yellow with red. Grow warm-intermediate, with moderately bright-bright light,
with a pronounced dry period once the bulb is mature, as for Catasetum.
Mormodes flavida - (Panama) Another rare species with yellow flowers! Grow warm-intermediate, with moderately bright-bright light,
with a pronounced dry period once the bulb is mature, as for Catasetum.
Mormodes fractiflexa (syn. igneum) - (Panama) Beautiful, wild and rare species Grow warm-intermediate, with moderately bright-bright light,
with a pronounced dry period once the bulb is mature, as for Catasetum.
Mormodes hookeri - (Panama) Almost black. Beautiful fast-growing seedlings. Grow warm-intermediate, with moderately bright-bright light,
with a pronounced dry period once the bulb is mature, as for Catasetum.
Mormodes horichii - (Panama) Purple flowers! Grow warm-intermediate, with moderately bright-bright light,
with a pronounced dry period once the bulb is mature, as for Catasetum.
Mormodes punctata - (Panama) Beautiful, wild and rare species with golden brown blooms finely dotted with purple. Grow warm-intermediate, with moderately bright-bright light,
with a pronounced dry period once the bulb is mature, as for Catasetum.
Mormodes skinneri - (Panama) Beautiful, wild and rare species with gold blooms
striped with cinnamon. Lip pale yellow with red. Grow warm-intermediate, with moderately bright-bright light,
with a pronounced dry period once the bulb is mature, as for Catasetum.
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