Schoenorchis fragrans wild capsule #4802 (approximately 25 seedlings per flask). This cross is from a seed capsule on a plant that was imported from China.

The Species: This dwarf, monopodial species grows from eastern India through Yunnan, China at elevations from 2450 to 3300 ft elevation as an epiphyte. It has thick, sucullent leaves less than an inch long in a fanlike growth. It has clusters of succesively opening flowers that are a deep rose color and sweetly fragrant. A mature, well-grown plant will have multiple fans and produce a mass of flowers for an impressive show in a very small space.

Culture: These do best in intermediate to warm conditions. Give in almost Cattleya light and let it dry for several days between waterings. I have some hanging on Cattleya baskets so they get watered on the same schedule. I don't use moisture rententive media at the roots so that they dry quickly. Some of the habitat has seasonally dry winters, but I don't give them a hard dry rest.

Schoenorchis fragrans, representative images