Corytoplectus cutucuensis is a stunningly ornamental species native to Ecuador, where it thrives in the humid understory of Andean cloud forests. The species takes its tongue-twisting name from the Cutucú Mountains, reflecting its origins. Though beautiful, it presents unique challenges for indoor gardeners.
I acquired a cutting of Corytoplectus cutucuensis in July 2023 and rooted it in my preferred growing mix of equal parts sphagnum peat moss, coarse perlite, and coarse vermiculite. Under the humidity of a covered propagation tray, the cutting rooted quickly and began producing side branches. Once established, the plant was moved to my light stand, where it continued to grow. However, the foliage frequently browned and dropped easily, leading me to suspect that the light intensity was too high and the humidity too low.
 |
| Corytoplectus cutucuensis - Beautiful foliage |
This species thrives in very low light. A correspondent who observed the plant in its native habitat described the conditions as nearly too dark for photography. In brighter light, the leaves tend to curl under, and their vibrant green hue takes on a brownish tint.
The foliage is one of Corytoplectus cutucuensis’s most striking features. The silver-veined leaves are bordered with red hairs that lend an attractive glow to the plant. Remarkably, my plants bloom readily regardless of their overall condition, producing bright orange flowers and calyxes that enhance their ornamental appeal.
 |
| Corytoplectus cutucuensis - Fuzzy orange flowers |
Finding the right growing conditions for this plant in my setup required some trial and error. The original plant branched readily, allowing me to propagate several more for experimentation. I rooted some cuttings in long-fiber sphagnum moss and others in the standard mix.
To test different conditions, I placed a few small plants in a terrarium and others on various light stands under different intensities. The terrarium-grown plants experienced foliage rot, prompting me to relocate them to the light stands. For increased humidity, all my light stands are now covered but not sealed.
The most successful plant so far is growing on a light stand designed for taller plants, where it sits more than 18 inches away from the lights. Its foliage is lush and healthy. I also moved one plant to a windowsill alongside orchids to see how it adapts to natural light. Overall, the plants grown in the 1:1:1 mix performed better than the ones in long-fiber moss.
 |
| Corytoplectus cutucuensis - Glossy black fruit |
Adding to its ornamental appeal, Corytoplectus cutucuensis produces glossy black fruits after flowering, which further enhance its visual interest.
Despite the challenges of cultivating this species in my conditions, I greatly enjoy growing Corytoplectus cutucuensis. The foliage still develops some browning along the edges, but the plant consistently draws attention from visitors. I must also admit, I find the name Corytoplectus cutucuensis quite fun to say!
Comments
Post a Comment