ZYGOPETALUM - how I re-bloomed it!

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

**There's a follow up to this video 1 YEAR LATER: Advice versus Reality - kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHjLhplspLV1fNU

[@orchidgarden3124]

I have killed a few zygo in my day. Currently have 2 doing really well. You are correct, they will not stand overwatering. In my environment they need really well draining media. I also find that giving more calcium than I give any other orchid helps to combat rotting new growths. There is bad advice out there on growing these. They are often said to be terrestrial, needing a lot of moisture. That is the kiss of death in my environment. I definitely let them dry completely before watering. Yours looks vert healthy! Well done!

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Thanks - it's nice to have a success to talk about for a change! I read one source claiming they were 'true epiphytes' then another claiming there were some terrestrial species, several pointing out there were about 15 species, then Kew showing you many, many more species than that - so who knows?? It would be great if there was one source for all this information that could genuinely be relied upon. Until there is, then I guess we're stuck with nearly killing them for a while longer! I'm pleased you've cracked them anyway.

[@hazelford3358]

Lots of information, thank you. Beautiful plant. Congrats on keeping it going for a rebloom.

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Thank you - one does one's best - as the Queen would say! 😂

[@annebroder9902]

Great job, Geoff, a living and blooming Zygo! Well done! Those blooms are gorgeous! My two last survivors are doing better since I keep them dry.

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Thanks, Anne. I'm really pleased although very often it's more down to the conditions I have rather than the conditions I'm trying to create. 😂 But I'm still claiming a win regardless! 😂

[@duma227]

Yes! I have basically exactly the same story with my Zygo. The growth I got it with rotted out in the centre (after the flowers had faded from the twin spikes) same as yours and I lost a lot of roots. I repotted it before all that (probably a bad idea to disturb it in bloom but the media was breaking down) and it had a great root system - but the advice I got was that it was terrestrial so I watered generously...Not a good idea! This was in winter in New Zealand - which, where I live anyway, is not too different from the UK i.e cool and damp. So I started to let it dry out a lot more and quite quickly it started a new growth! It didn’t bloom, but got very plump - it was undersized but a lovely bright green with perfect leaves. Then it matured and immediately produced a new growth of its own which now has a spike developing! So I’ve also had success and am very proud I got a rebloom after it went downhill so much early on. I successfully grow quite a few Masdevallia’s and the care for Zygo’s is very different imo. I never let them dry out at all and they bloom and bloom and have amazing root systems - the Zygo gets medium dry I would say, not like a Cattleya but maybe like Miltoniopsis. In fact, it’s most similar in requirements to my Miltoniopsis I think, which I have also managed to almost kill but is thriving again with 4 new growths! Often I think we need to take the ‘official’ care advice with a grain of salt - it’s so dependent on your environment. Well done! Those blooms are gorgeous! Are they fragrant? Mine was heavenly last time - can’t wait to smell it again!

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Thanks Erica - like you say, it appears our environments and therefore plant experiences are very similar. I've found Masdevallias grow in my greenhouse without any special attention at all - yet those with indoor grow-rooms really struggle with them. I'm pleased to hear your Zygo is on the up and you can look forward to several months of fragrant blooms. And yes, mine is very fragrant but only at certain times of the day. (You can see my Masdevallia video in this playlist - not many videos so far, but I'm working on it! kzbin.info/www/bejne/baWadYyFn7CZo7c)

[@yolyrom7233]

The drumroll was great. I bought my very first Zygo about two months ago, and so far so good. Took it out of the pot it came in after it acclimated to my environment. It’s in a cooler environment like my Phals. Thank goodness I didn’t overwater it. The blooms are absolutely stunning!

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Good to know! I really must get a few more...

[@meenswozb]

Just got one 4 days ago. Totally stunning. I’m keeping mine in the bathroom (ES facing window - dappled sunshine) Not sure where else I can keep it. Also the base is a bit brown - do I need to be concerned ? 😳

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Possibly! This was the first video I made on my Zygo - a more up to date one, which goes through everything I learned about it is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHjLhplspLV1fNU They really don't like water left on their leaves, and if it's anywhere near the base of the growths they can rot.

[@kathymacomber5115]

I think that Zygo is fabulous

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Thanks Kathy - I think so too! 😁

[@NinjaOrchids]

Success! 🥳🙌🏼 I have one that has been a rescue fir the past 2 years. A month ago I saw it was developing new roots with a stronger new growth, so I risked taking it out of the sphagnum only pot and plonked it into my leca set up. I’m watching it closely because it may not be pleased about having been moved 😬 if I remember correctly, mine has the same blooms as your’s ... time will tell, either way 😅 great video !

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Thanks Nina. I've still got the re-pot to come, so I'm thinking mostly bark and perlite (with a touch of sphagnum) in my environment - I think mostly sphagnum would stay too wet. Good luck with your leca test - I'll look forward to an update video on it.

[@beckyconnor790]

definitely take the success, the buds were not same buds on there when you got it, so it is all you, repotted or not, been in your space to produce that spike and buds! tfsts the way i would look at it......i havent had time to repot tbe majority of my collection, (circumstances beyond my control) but my zygo has its first rebloom coming since i got mine in march of 2019, so i am 100% claiming it, so excited! good info, thanks😊

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Haha yeah thanks becky, I'm chalking it down as a home win! Good luck with yours too. 😁

[@beckyconnor790]

@@Grow_Up_Man55 I ain't scared, lmao they will eitber make or tbey won't ... hopefully the majority will🤞🤞🤞😎😎

[@discoverme7621]

Lovely 😍

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Thanks!

[@discoverme7621]

@@Grow_Up_Man55 you're welcome 😊

[@sheilabroad8192]

Gosh. My heart is beating so fast just looking at this beauty. 😳💞. I just bought a Zygo Acacalis 50 % off. Great roots on in. Trying to understand the watering .. wish me luck.

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Thanks Sheila. Mine is just about to bloom again - got 2 spikes on it. I haven't found the watering to be too much of an issue providing I can keep the temperatures up (currently it's kept at a minimum of 17/18°C). The real issues come when the temps drop - then wet roots easily rot. I wish you the very best of luck - I'm sure you'll crack it!

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

For more orchid videos go watch this playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZ-kYqmId9VkoLc

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

😀

[@marniethomson9046]

Hi Jeff I’ve a little question for you. I have a zygo blue angel ans a few months ago it had a mealy bug infestation. I’ve reported it and since then found one or two. So I’m still treating it. All the flower stems died and I’ve had a new one grow. However, they have bloomed while still growing( actually in the stem, so to speak) they are also completely different colour and looking flowers from the last ones. Now I only got this plant in May for a birthday present and it was already in bloom when I received it. Why would the flowers bloom in the stem? And why are they completely different flowers? 😳

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Marnie, did you use systemic insecticides to rid yourself of the pesky mealy bugs?

[@marniethomson9046]

@@Grow_Up_Man55 no I used a mix of 70% isopropyl alcohol and water and sprayed the plant once a day and removed any bug I found on it.

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

@@marniethomson9046 Ok thanks - well, I was going to say that systemic insecticides can cause plant mutations - but after some brief Googling it appears that even alcohol can cause plant mutations. It would seem logical that your issues are due to the most recent events and Zygos are particularly prone to mutating anyway. Hopefully once your infestation has past and the effects of the treatment has worn off it'll start doing what it's supposed to do again.

[@marniethomson9046]

@@Grow_Up_Man55 wow I had no idea that the solution would make it mutate! That’s interesting to say the least. Would it cause the flowers to bloom early? Like the spike is still growing yet the buds which are still coming from the stem have bloomed in the stem. Thank you so much for getting back to me. I appreciate it.

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

My pleasure. With mutations anything can happen. Just take a look at all the mutations in my greenhouse last year - and the very first example just happens to be a Zygo! kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIjVqYGtgNCLf9k

[@distreatfield6653]

the perseverance. Shall be looking for your videos from now on, how about advice on Dendrobium ?

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Haha yeah I'm nothing if not doggedly determined! Here's a playlist on Dendrobiums - the newer videos are better as they reflect my improved knowledge and my improved presentation and video-making skills! 😂 kzbin.info/aero/PLQKwmNwb1T5CL00EPakZOwq567h6mRTML

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

By the way, if you enjoyed the Zygopetalum video, there's a follow-up to that one a year later, on how the advice differed from the reality of my experiences. Here's the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHjLhplspLV1fNU

[@behau_99]

Wow

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

😀

[@sillyNAHcheeto]

To me it kind of looks like that partially opened bloom is like a "yolk" surrounded by petals

[@anndriggers6660]

I cooked my orchids last night😢😊😂

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Didn't know there were edible orchids...🤷‍♂️🤣