Cyc. Baker's Paradise 'Pistachio' x Cyc. Richard Brandon '#1'

A Pale Mint-Green Cycnoches with Heavy Dark Speckles

A fresh Catasetinae cross straight from our Kurtistown benches, putting a bright new spin on classic Cycnoches breeding. It stacks thick, waxy blooms onto plump, spindle-shaped pseudobulbs that stay manageably sized on the bench.

The flowers open in shades of pale pistachio-green to soft cream, heavily dusted with fine, peppered freckles in deep mahogany-red. The thick, fleshy lip sits beneath a long, forward-sweeping column, giving each bloom the distinct geometry of a tiny bird poised inside the flower with its wings spread wide.

Catasetums and their kin bring a dynamic rhythm to the bench that makes them an absolute joy to grow. They spend the spring and summer eating like pigs and putting on growth at a furious pace, then drop every single leaf in winter for a bone-dry rest. That seasonal leaf drop gives you a mandatory vacation from watering for months at a time, which is a rare feature your house sitters will deeply appreciate. When this cross spikes, the waxy blossoms fill the entire room with a bright, spicy wintergreen scent that holds strong for weeks.

Quick Care Guide

• Light: Bright, filtered light; leaf color should sit at a light apple green during active growth.

• Water: Heavy watering and feeding while in full summer growth; zero water once leaves drop for winter dormancy.

• Temperature: Nights 62–68°F, days 75–90°F. Warm-growing year-round.

• Fertilizer: High-nitrogen or balanced fertilizer with every watering through spring and summer; stop completely during winter dormancy.

• Mature size: Cycnoches pseudobulbs reach 8 to 12 inches tall; arching inflorescences extend 12 to 18 inches.