This genus contains about 150 evergreen epiphytic species, which originate from South and Central America, often at high elevations in the Andes.
The plants were at one time included in the genus Oncidium, but are now considered distinct, although the latter name persists in orchid-growing circles. Very few of the species, and virtually no hybrids, are cultivated.
These come mainly from across China and Japan and are highly regarded by the Japanese, who grow them to perfection, creating new hybrid along the way. This group produces small, diminutive pseudobulbs with wide, spreading foliage. The flower spikes come from the base, and carry numerous colourful flowers with yellow, pink, white and green being popular.
Calanthes have a short, fast-growing season. Because of the speed at which they grow, these are really exciting orchids to cultivate, but they do need plenty of headroom while in leaf. Repot each spring when the growth starts. If the oldest pseudobulb is dead and shrivelled, remove it; if it is still firm and plump, it may be potted separately to give you two new plants next season.
Cyrtochilums do well alongside other members of the Odontoglossum alliance. Some of the species produce their new pseudobulbs along an upward-creeping rhizome, with a long gap in between. One good way of growing these is to insert a mossy pole into a heavy flowerpot and allow the plant to extend upwards. Aerial roots soon become a feature of these plant.
In winter and spring, little flowers less than 1cm wide adorn the pretty Cirrhopetalum gut tulatum, which can be easily grown and does well indoors or in a cool greenhouse. The flower spikes are under 15cm (6 in) tall. Cirrhopetalum umbellatum A robust species with plants over 15cm tall, this has drooping flower spikes that terminate in umbels of large flowers where the sepals are extended to form the edge of the ring. The petals and lip are very small. The flowers bloom in spring.
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