[Ghazanfar Ghori]

I've been growing C. bangkaensis for about 18 months. I find it to be a fairly easy plant to grow under standard blackwater conditions. A few months ago, one of my plants started to send up a spathe - but unfortunately, while the spathe was still only a few millimeters long, it melted. The plant tried again two additional times, with similar results. I couldn't figure out why the spathe was not maturing. Guessing it was some kind of nutrient deficiency, I added a fertilizer tab to the pot, hoping that would do the trick. The next spathe developed normally, and it finally opened up yesterday. Here are a few pictures, maybe excessive pictures, but its a beautiful spathe and I couldn't help myself. Pictures don't do this spathe justice - the patterns, colors and textures are to be seen in person to be truly appreciated.

More pictures on my blog...

 

[SnyperP]

You crypt guys are hardcore. =D

 

[fredyk]

wierd spathe; in its own way, fascinating!

 

[DelawareJim]

Cool flower! Great job. Mine just keeps plugging along, no flowers yet. Hopefully this spring.

Cheers.
Jim

 

[Kai Witte]

Congrats, Ghanzanfar!

This is also one of my favorite crypt species. And, yes, the inflorescence is really beautiful. Looks like your plant still could need some more nutrients (preferably from leaf-mould) - these tend to flower non-stop if the plants have enough energy reserves to keep going. I'd also guess that nutrients are the limiting factor with Jim's plant...

 

[Ghazanfar Ghori]

I had a few leaves die off as the spathe started to mature. I suspect I'm low on SOME nutrient, I just cannot figure out what. Leaf mould from F. sylvatica is impossible to come by here. I need to figure out exactly what the plant needs from the leaf mould, that way we can find substitutes.

I always have a hard time figuring out if I'm over fertilizing or under fertilizing.

 

[DelawareJim]

Congrats, Ghanzanfar!
I'd also guess that nutrients are the limiting factor with Jim's plant...

Yes, I'm sure you're right. I tend to run my Crypts, orchids, and aquariums lean. Don't have a lot of free time and if I increased the nutrients to proper levels, I'd never keep up.

Cheers.
Jim

 

[cryptoria]

Nice crypt and nice shot!

 

[junglemike]

Nice looking spathe!!!

 

[Bert H]

Photo links appear to be broken. Never mind, working now. Great shots!

 

[Khamul1of9]

Nice!! Great dissection too!