Gift that became an obsession — Zygopetalum

Someone gave me Zygopetalum as a birthday gift and I barely knew what it was. Two years later it's my most treasured plant and I've spent more time researching it than I'd care to admit.

The key discovery was watering by soaking the pot then letting it drain fully — once that clicked, the plant transformed. spectacular flower forms that rival almost any plant is what gets mentioned every time anyone visits. I keep it in a grouping with other tropical plants for humidity which works perfectly. peak bloom display through winter and spring is when I understand why this plant has such devoted followers. scale insects on pseudobulbs and undersides of leaves is the one ongoing challenge but it's worth the effort.