Help me pick some new mini/micro-Catts!

[DrDawn]

Ok, I've promised myself that if I ever bloom a Cattleya then I'm allowed to buy more! (I've got 4 right now, never a bloom, but several have sheaths so I'm crossing my fingers that this is the year! I also moved them to a sunnier location, so that might help).

The four I have are:

- Potinara Paxton Brooks 'Sunset Glow' X Sophronitis cernua 'Newberry Star'
- Slc. Sierra Doll 'Newberry'
- Blc. Cambobello 'Mendenhall'
- Cycatonia Newberry Pink Butterflies (Ctna. Capri 'Lea' x Encyclia tampensis alba)

(LOL can you tell that my dad and I shop at Carter and Holmes a lot?)

The Cambobello is from my dad and is HUGE for my growing area. The others seem to be staying pretty small.

I'm looking for mini/micro Catts/hybrids that can stand my New England indoor growing (summer: 75F with humidity around 60%, winters around 60F with 40% humidity). I'd love something in the pink/purple/blue color ranges. (Although a sparkling bright yellow could be fun!). I'm looking for personal recommendations of plants (I've spent hours perusing websites like SVO, Golden Country, Diamond Orchids, etc.) so I'd like to know what are your favorites! Tiny growth habits required! (Picture of my growing area in my southeast facing window attached.)

[estación seca]

Most of the blue Cattleyas at Gold Country are small plants, flowering in 2" / 5cm pots. And any of the mini Catts from SVO will make you happy.

In your conditions the small reds bred from Sophronitis coccinea will do well. Look for orpettii ancestry.

[DrDawn]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Most of the blue Cattleyas at Gold Country are small plants, flowering in 2" / 5cm pots.

Good to know! I didn't realize that Alan's blues are so small :-D Thanks!

[Dollythehun]

DrDawn. What a nice post. TY. I'm growing Lc. Mini Purple 'Blue Hawaii,' which is quite small. It tends to spread width wise, not grow up. I also have a SC Royal Beau 'H & R' that is very small. In fact the bloom is almost the size of the plant. If you like to grow from babies, look at Olympic Orchids. Ellen always has unusual things and I thought I saw some mini cats there recently.

[DrDawn]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

I also have a SC Royal Beau 'H & R' that is very small. In fact the bloom is almost the size of the plant.

Ah, thanks Dolly! I had been looking at C. Royal Doll (Sierra Doll x Royal Beau) from Gold Country and I thought that Royal Beau was actually much prettier! :-D I'll keep an eye out for it!

[Dollythehun]

Here's the first bloom and the plant.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

Here's the first bloom and the plant.

That is incredibly nice! Nicer than nice!

[DrDawn]

Yea, now we all want that one! :-P I can't find it for sale in the States currently, unfortunately.

[Leafmite]

I have been pursuing small/mini Cattleyas, too, and buying from SVO, lately, and, in the past, Gold Country Orchids. Alan has a 'blue' Lc 'Love Knot which you might like. As I like my Cattleyas to be fragrant, with SVO, I have the added challenge of researching the ancestors to try to determine if fragrance will result in the cross. It is also a bit of a gamble as one cannot be certain of the result.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by DrDawn

Yea, now we all want that one! :-P I can't find it for sale in the States currently, unfortunately.

I had only heard of C. Royal Beau before! Impressive potential!!!!! ------ I was just scanning the internet a moment ago and came across another one from the grex ..... C. Royal Beau 'Dendi'.

I would love to grow this one AND the same one that dolly is growing.