NoID Cattleya

[JScott]

When I said "floofy" and that the color is so sweet it almost makes my teeth hurt, I didn't mean to generalize prejudicially against any certain type of Orchid, or suggest that plants with such qualities were less desirable than others. My point was just that this plant is not the type I usually find myself drawn to, and if I had seen its picture at one of the nurseries I shop from, I would not have selected it myself, however once I experienced this type of Cattleya, I learned that I actually enjoy it very much. It really was lucky that I got this plant and saw how amazing it was and opened my eyes to plants I previously would not have considered. It really is an attention getter. I don't think I mentioned yet, it is highly, pleasantly fragrant. You can smell it from across the room.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by JScott

This was the second plant I bought from him that bloomed out to be something totally different than it was supposed to be. However after the initial disappointment, I realized it really is a nice plant. The plant is compact in size, about ten inches tall from rhizome to leaf tip, while the blooms are huge, almost 7 inches. It isn't something I would have picked out for myself. It's too "floofy" I think is the word I've heard people here use, and the color is so sweet it almost makes my teeth hurt, but it's grown on me and I'm glad to have it now. It's not what I wanted, but it is beautiful anyway.

While a lot of big, floofy Catts look similar to me, that one sort of rang a bell. One can never be sure on a NOID (and someone here who knows Catt hybrids a lot better than I do may tell me I am totally wrong, won't hurt my feelings), but it sure looks to me like Blc. Memoria Crispin Rosales 'Shining Moment'
If so, you ended up with a classic.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by JScott

When I said "floofy" and that the color is so sweet it almost makes my teeth hurt, I didn't mean to generalize prejudicially against any certain type of Orchid, or suggest that plants with such qualities were less desirable than others.

Not at all JS. I assume 'floofy' is defined as rather big and generally frilly, large petals, wavy shape. Generally very showy - regardless of the colour. Although, colour will or can play a role in the wow-factor behind these flowers too.

Sometimes, when I look at certain flowers - such as a catt ----- I do look for particular features in terms of shape - to aim for. But overall ----- if I do end up with a particular flower that has some kind of shape that I hadn't actually been targeting, then that's quite ok with me too. When I mean 'target' or 'aim for' ------ I mean -- sort of like looking for features that matches a particular style ------ like formal-wear of a particular society era, eg. tuxedo, or some other kind of gown. If doesn't match to a tee ------ then not concerned at all, as orchids are individuals, as we are individuals.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by JScott

This was the second plant I bought from him that bloomed out to be something totally different than it was supposed to be.

Know just what you mean here JS. If that company did that to me 2 times, then I wouldn't trust them with a 50 metre pole after that. Unsatisfactory. If a plant arrives and you've been looking extremely forward to the flowering, after you had been getting excited by the build-up, and had put in time and effort and care ------ and you find out when the flowers open that you had not received what you paid (wrong tag etc) ----- then that's no good.

Sure - there are cases where we might end up getting better than what we were after (even if a different orchid had arrived) - but that's besides the point. So know just what you mean.

[BrassavolaStars]

I tend to think of those type of cattleyas as the standard whereas I find waxy ones to the the exception.

I like both though I trend towards the waxy ones slightly lately.

In my experience, the non-waxy, standard chiffon-like ones tend to be unifoliate rhynchoaelia hybrids (though there are some unifoliate cattleya species that are a bit similar) whereas the waxy ones are bifoliate Brazillian sp.-guarianthe hybrids.

Some of my favorite cattleyas are standard ones similar in shape to yours such as the Mahina Yahiro, Perfect choice, and Taichung Beauty. That said, the waxy ones like Siam Jade and Chocolate Drop tend to last longer and have a more citrusy fragrance compared to the rubbery rose fragrance possessed by the standard cattleyas in my collection.

[JScott]

It's not just the shape of the flower I consider. I actually have a few big, frilly, fluffy Catts that have long been favorites. Rlc Williette Wong 'The Best' I think is a good example. It's big and frilly and I absolutely love mine and it has long been one of my favorites, but the color has as much to do with it as anything. I LOVE yellows and reds, and Williette Wong has both. Magenta and cotton candy pink don't usually arouse my interest, but this unidentified guy I got by mistake sure has made me very happy.

---------- Post added at 10:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:00 PM ----------

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Know just what you mean here JS. If that company did that to me 2 times, then I wouldn't trust them with a 50 metre pole after that. Unsatisfactory. If a plant arrives and you've been looking extremely forward to the flowering, after you had been getting excited by the build-up, and had put in time and effort and care ------ and you find out when the flowers open that you had not received what you paid (wrong tag etc) ----- then that's no good.

Sure - there are cases where we might end up getting better than what we were after (even if a different orchid had arrived) - but that's besides the point. So know just what you mean.

I know exactly what you mean. The fact that I love this plant is beside the point as far as whether I will buy from this vendor again. I set out to buy a specific plant, I found it, and I bought it from him. I cared for it and grew it up to blooming size and then anxiously watched at the first buds developed, and it was the wrong plant. Even if it is a great plant, which I think this one is, it's still disappointing that all the build up didn't lead to the desired conclusion.

[BrassavolaStars]

Originally Posted by JScott

I LOVE yellows and reds, and Williette Wong has both. Magenta and cotton candy pink don't usually arouse my interest, but this unidentified guy I got by mistake sure has made me very happy.

I like yellows and reds as well. The local vendor I go to is quite the opposite though. He told me that he despises yellow and red cattleyas (specifically yellow with a red lip) with a passion as they don’t sell as well as the pink and purple ones. If you lived around where I do, he’d probably give you a good deal on them as he likes moving inventory. He said he hasn’t been able to sell his yellow and red ones for close to years and they take up a lot of space. That always amused me.

He has the same opinion on Angraecums which are another favorite of mine.

Good luck with your NOID though. Sometimes the unexpected ones end up being favorites as you said with this one. That said, it’s not alright for vendors to repeated mislabel plants and it’s quite frustrating when you had a specific plant in mind to get a different one.

[ArronOB]

We all know a noid is a noid and always will be etc

But do a search on BLC pink Empress or just go here Flickr

Uncanny.

I have a couple of pink empress that will hopefully flower for the first time next season. I bought them as bag babies because the label said ‘flowers to 200mm wide’, which I guess is a little over 7 inches.

Pink empress is very commonly offered at the moment. Catts are faddish, in a couple of years time we won’t see it at all, but now it’s everywhere. I guess there were a lot of flasks available a couple of years ago.

[SouthPark]

True Arron. In most case, I definitely reckon a no-id will remain no-id. Only for some selected cases, where somebody gets a feeling that it is a particular orchid, and then happens to go ahead with say a DNA test (to be paid for, and to be compared with a known ID reference plant) ------ then that could be the odd exception. Otherwise - will remain a no-id.

This link here has similar styles ...... Click Here.

I agree with you that the orchid from your link does have resemblances!

[DirtyCoconuts]

I am so impressed by your awareness of your tastes!

I am so much more mercurial and bounce all over the size, shape, color spectrum that the only thing I can say with any certainty is I like weird. I also like pretty, aggressive, feminine and masculine (whatever that means lol), big middle and little!
The ones that grab me are the oddballs!