Mini Catts or fall bloomers?

[Troythediver]

Does anyone have a favorite mini Catt? I have heard of them, but haven't read up on them. Anyone have a suggestion for their favorite? Do they have some that still have the huge flowers.

Also,

I know that minicatts can bloom multiple times a year, but does anyone from the north know of orchids (or have favorites) that reliably bloom every fall/late summer?

[RandomGemini]

Just adding a post here, because I'd like to know too!

[tucker85]

One of my favorite mini-catts is Rlc. Lisa Taylor Gallis 'Nora'. I bought mine from Marble Branch Farms. It's a small plant with a large flower and it blooms twice a year. This one is mounted but it will do just as well in a pot. It's about 8" tall with 4" flowers.


I also really like Lc. Secret Love 'Angel'. I bought mine locally so I don't know where you can get one. It has fairly large flowers and a nice fragrance. The leaves are 8" with a 4" flower.



Pot. Creation 'Summer's Choice' is another good one but I've only had it 6 months and don't know how often it will bloom. I bought mine locally but I did see Norman's Orchids at Orchids.com had them for sale. It's about 9" tall with 4" flowers.

[Ordphien]

I can't speak for any named varieties, as all mine are NOIDS.
But I love mini cattleyas. They have quickly climbed to the top of my favorite orchids.
I prefer the smaller flowering ones personally but I am getting interested in the larger flowered ones.
The ease of culture is been so fantastic too.
Just wanted to get a vote for them in.

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[tucker85]

Pot. Hawaiian Prominence 'America' is an unusual mini-catt with dark red flowers. I got this one from Carmela's orchids. The vendor says it blooms a couple times a year but it only bloomed once for me over the last year. It's also been a slow grower for me.



Lc. Crystelle Smith 'Gold Throat' is smaller than the other plants I mentioned. It also only has a 2.5" flower, but it's a cute plant and blooms at least twice a year.

[Ordphien]

Oh Tucker... you make my mini cattleyas look so sad lol.
Yours are truly beautiful.

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[tucker85]

Check out Marble Branch Farms for mini and compact cattleyas. Look for blooming size plants, not seedlings.

[isurus79]

Alan Koch over at Gold Country Orchids has some great mini Catts too.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Troythediver

I know that minicatts can bloom multiple times a year, but does anyone from the north know of orchids (or have favorites) that reliably bloom every fall/late summer?

The latter part is where you will have issues. Minicatts, as a whole, do not have a season. The frequency and timing of blooms depends on how fast new leads are produced and mature. So while blooming 2x per year or more likely, finding one that "reliably" blooms each fall/late summer is another story. (Though I did have a Slc Ginny Champion that bloomed every October like clockwork for me.)

[Troythediver]

Of course all of the examples you guys posted are ones that I would love to have in my collection.

So maybe I should step back. What is the definition of a mini Catt? If potinara is a mini Catt then I already have one!

As for the summer/autumn question, I was opening that up to all orchids not just the mini Catts.