Suggestions for an All Star Cattleya Genus species/hybrid?

[Plantcrazed101]

Hi y'all,

I have been avoiding Cattleyas because I'm totally overwhelmed with all the different types and options, and worried I will pick something that doesn't really earn all the space it takes up. I'm not even sure if anything in the Cattleya genus could match this description, but if so let me know! If there is anything close to this I'd love to know too!

Okay, so my dream Cattleya-genus orchid would be:

A small plant
Big blooms
Very fragrant
Blooms are brightly colored (orange, red, hot pink, yellow)
Blooms more than once a year
Can be grown warm (my temps are 55-80)

[estación seca]

There are very many plants that fit those criteria. You didn't, though, mention light. Cattleyas need very bright light to bloom. Being near a window is not enough.

I would suggest you go to Sunset Valley Orchids and look at the Cattleyas. The mini plants are sold out, but the compact plants fit your description. Also look at the blooming size plants in 4" pots. Many of these are compact plants, ready to bloom. They often come with buds.

One thing to keep in mind... these are all hybrids. Flower color is not assured. Fred tries to give a good idea of what to expect, but there are always surprises. I've never been disappointed. Look at my avatar.

[Plantcrazed101]

Thanks Estacion! I did visit SVO, and even emailed Fred, and he told me what I'm looking for doesn't exist. :/

Light...I have 3 Brassavola type hybrids with lots of purple spots on the leaves from what I understand to be high light, is that enough light for a Cattleya?

[estación seca]

Purple spots on leaves = Yes.

I'm surprised... my avatar plant is very fragrant, and blooms at about 5" tall. Mini Catts almost always have some kind of Sophronitis in them, which almost always blocks the scent. Most clones of Brassavola nodosa produce scentless offspring.

What about

SVO 5840
Roth. NEW HYBRID (Epc. Kyoguchi 'M. Sauno' mutation x Pot. Gold Medallions 'SVO' HCC/AOS)
Kyoguchi [C. aurantiaca x Encyl. incumbens (syn. aromatica)] is a great novelty that blooms with 25-30 highly fragrant yellow flowers on branched inflorescences. Gold Medallions (Slc. Wasp Nest x Blc. Love Sound) blooms with 7-9 very round golden flowers that look like medallions. The combination of this round flower shape and golden color with the highly floriferous and fragrant Kyoguchi is expected to create a wonderful, fragrant hybrid that produces consistently high quality offspring. This novelty hybrid is showing excellent plant vigor. A fun new style of breeding.

[Leafmite]

For a possible red, take a look at Pot. Hawaiian Prominence `America' AM/AOS'. This one is wonderfully fragrant, red with a yellow center, blooms multiple times a year and is small and compact. SVO has actually used it in breeding so I am not sure why they told you that what you want doesn't exist. Maybe the blooms are not huge but I thought they were decent.

https://www.amazon.com/Pot-Hawaiian-.../dp/B00JFJ0WNM

[Roberta]

If you're willing to give up "fragrant" there are lots that meet the other requirements. Along with SVO, contact Peter T. Lin (Diamond Orchids Peter T. Lin - Diamond Orchids - About Me
He works closely with Fred Clarke but also has some of his own mini-catts, might have some to sell.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Look up Lc. Llory Ann 'Paradise'. If you accept 'under a foot tall' (typically 8 inches) as small, this is a plant that meets your other requirements. 4-inch strongly fragrant flowers, blooms twice a year.

Edited, added: Just posted a new thread that includes a photo, see:
Cattleya Llory Ann 'Paradise'

[pipsxlch]

I'm going to have to look for Llory Ann...

Don't know about fragrance and tend to suspect it isn't, but these should be compact, free blooming, and orange like you were interested in...
Rlc. Exotic Appeal x C. Dream Catcher (3.5

What about Gold Country Orchids (right name??) also? There are several nurseries that specialize in smaller Catts.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by pipsxlch

I'm going to have to look for Llory Ann...

What about Gold Country Orchids (right name??) also? There are several nurseries that specialize in smaller Catts.

Excellent suggestion. Gold Country Orchids