High Quality Cattleya

[Fairorchids]

What defines a high quality Cattleya?

Obviously, you can look at AOS flower quality awards. An AM is certainly better than an HCC, but both are inferior to an FCC. However, that is not the full picture.

About 3 years ago, I purchased a bunch of Cattleyas from Fred Clark, all in 3" pots. This shipment included both the direct and the reciprocal cross [B]Lc. Crimson Dragon[/B].

I think I got about 8 of each. The first to bloom was nice, but I subsequently bloomrf 3 or 4 superior flowers.

However, 3 years later, most plants are still 'singles', in 4" or 6" pots. in comparison, the plant that bloomed first, with a very good flower, now fills:
1 x 6" pot
3 x 4" pot (one with 2 leads. and two with 4-6 leads)

So, which is 'better'?

[DirtyCoconuts]

Are you asking if a smaller plant with more growths is better than a larger slower one?

[Shadeflower]

from my understanding candidate A ( I have called it that) has grown the most (ie made lots of new bulbs) but hasn't got the nicest flowers out of the lot.
Others have nicer flowers but have not grown as fast.

It's a very good question and I honestly don't know. Are you positive the growing conditions were identical for all 16? Sometimes plants are set back initially but then catch up but I have noticed and mentioned with seedlings some just stand out above the rest growth wise. So it's a good question. Determined a little by the grower selecting one, depending on their preferences.

Just to add, to me a high quality cattleya is one without a sophronitis in its parentage or a very low percentage. There's plenty of good miniatures out there, adding sophronitis ruins the high quality for me. It's like so many mini's have been created using sophronitis. But why not a luteola or a nobilior? There is a niche there waiting to be filled. I know the nobilior is a hard one to hybridize but it was done... yes with the sophronitis lol to create the sc beaufort so it can be done.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

What defines a high quality Cattleya?

Good question! It is probably difficult to define. But definitions are made and created ----- as part of language and communications.

In an orchid 'competition' or an orchid 'judging' event ------- 'high quality' could just be based on results of the scoring system. We know that in nature, boundaries are not always clear cut. But society can choose to draw a line, and round off numbers and values in order to create 'boundaries' and cutoff values, and conditions, which allow them to put items into categories - like low, medium, high. Eg. if a number is above 8, then they could say it is 'high'. And if the number is below 8, such as 7.9, then that is lumped into the medium region ----- as an example only.

For sellers and breeders of orchids, these values can be important ----- as their livelihood or business depends on it. So completely understandable.

For other people - some growers - me included - symbols such as HCC, AM, FCC (or even no symbol) doesn't mean a great deal ------ as a lot of us just grow the orchids for enjoyment and to watch their roots, stems, leaves, flowers etc, and watch their behaviour. This is also why I don't include AM/FCC/HCC in my orchid inventory spreadsheet (with orchid names and orchid information) - as orchids isn't about judging or competition etc - for me that is.

But once again - quality, and symbols can matter (and totally understandable) for breeders and people involved in the orchid industry.

[SouthPark]

I forgot to mention ----- I'm definitely not against orchid competitions and orchid judging events. Having some friendly rivalry for friendly fun can be nice - as long as the people involved enjoy it, then it's great.