Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's rare super ghost orchid fails to bloom

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. (WINK)— Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's famed super ghost orchid didn't bloom last year, and drought conditions may be to blame.

The super ghost orchid is a year-round showstopper that draws visitors from around the world. Will Russell, a swamp visitor, remembers the last time he saw it in full bloom.

"The last time we were here, it was blooming," Russell said. "It's huge and white and gorgeous."

Russell said the bloom left a lasting impression on him.

"It's a memory which is receding, but it's, I still see. It's big, drooping, gorgeous foliage," Russell said.

The orchid holds special significance for the sanctuary. Keith Laakkonen, director of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, said the super ghost orchid is the largest ghost orchid known anywhere in North America.

"Historically, we have records of this thing blooming every month of the year," Laakkonen said.

But the orchid didn't bloom last year. Laakkonen said drought conditions likely disrupted the delicate microclimate the orchid needs to thrive.

"They require a certain microclimate. So the swamp has water, which keeps humidity high and stabilizes the temperature. If you don't have water in the swamp during a drought, the microclimate changes. So that could be why it didn't bloom last year," Laakkonen said.

Russell noticed the impact of the drought during his recent visit. He said Florida has been in a drought for a year.

"But this is the lowest that I've certainly seen it in my four or five visits here," Russell said.

Russell described the conditions he observed in the swamp. He said the ground was dark and damp, but there was no standing water until well into the swamp.

Despite the setback, there's still hope for the orchid's return. Laakkonen said the orchid has been there a long time and is still alive.

"So hopefully it'll come back and bloom this year," Laakkonen said.