Lycaste aromatica blooms for me starting mid-August. The blooms can last until October - as long as the house does not get too hot. Usually they only last until mid-September. The strong wafting smell is most pronounced during the middle of the day, usually peaking around 3 in the afternoon. It smells just like cinnamon, and a single flower can perfume much of the house. Usually there are 3-5 slightly pendant flowers, but I have had as many as 11 on this plant. A new fan occurs each year with the flowers, and will usually reach 24-30 inches in length - so you need a large bright area for this plant to grow in after it finishes flowering. It will then drop its leaves when it is finished building the new pseudobulb, and go dormant for a few months (when you can store it in the garage or basement, while holding back on watering). This orchid fits easily on a mantle when flowering, and is extremely aromatic.

My enc. radiata is a couple of years away from blooming size, but I can't wait for the scent! Lots of encyclias are fragrant and easy growers; they're great beginner orchids for anyone with a full sun space, indoors or out.

My only lycaste isn't fragrant, but it's a great mini orchid; I'm hoping to get one of the fragrant species this fall.

Jim

sue