Cattleya amethystoglossa

[Abe1997]

Some first bloom seedlings from my greenhouse in Miami! One is a line bred tipo and polyploid, obvious influence from ‘Orchidglade’ somewhere in its pedigree. The other is a first to bloom seedling from a batch of a selfed spotless variety. It bloomed as an unremarkable but I am still enjoying the rather large lip, hopeful to see how the rest of the batch bloom out.

These are the same age and grown on the same bench, one of the pictures shows the massive difference in size. The larger one also bloomed its first time with 8 flowers on a single inflorescence and grows like a weed. Here in Miami it has no rest and finishes 2-4 growths a year.

[isurus79]

Very nice! I love the scent on this species!

[Diane56Victor]

Lovely well grown display. How long did they take to bloom?
I bought a small seedling March of 2021 that seems to be doing well. Just wondering how long before i could see a bloom.

[estación seca]

Stephen can answer better, but it depends on ploidy. 4n plants can be in continuous growth if you have warm conditions, while 2n plants tend to grow once a year. In any event, longer than for most other Cattleya species and longer than almost every hybrid.

[isurus79]

I’d say 5 years or so, at least!

[Diane56Victor]

I don't have any details on the seedling but I have contacted the seller to see if they have any further information.
I expected a few years would be needed but I'll keep my fingers crossed for a 4n!
I have kept it inside since getting it mid March 2021 and it has grown well for me, still only small of course.

[Jeff214]

Originally Posted by Diane56Victor

I don't have any details on the seedling but I have contacted the seller to see if they have any further information.
I expected a few years would be needed but I'll keep my fingers crossed for a 4n!
I have kept it inside since getting it mid March 2021 and it has grown well for me, still only small of course.

I got a 4n amethystoglossa by mistake from the vendor (got to keep it along with the correct plant ) Mine is very slow growing. It makes one growth a year and just rests. For some reason, I have a propensity for knocking this one over out of its pot (a half a dozen times) and it's taking a while to establish.

Your plant looks healthy! Good luck with yours. Hope ours will look as beautiful as Abe1997s.

[Diane56Victor]

Thanks Jeff!

Plants as well grown as Abe's is something well worth aiming for.

[Abe1997]

Originally Posted by Diane56Victor

Lovely well grown display. How long did they take to bloom?
I bought a small seedling March of 2021 that seems to be doing well. Just wondering how long before i could see a bloom.

Thank you for the kind words! These are both perhaps 5 years from deflasking. I’ve found in my conditions amethystoglossa behaves slightly different from other bifoliates in its preference for tall plastic pots and it’s love of moisture in the summer. I keep them less dry in the spring and summer than other bifoliates. They grow in an inorganic mix and I blast with light almost to the point of burning the leaves.

This is in south Miami though and I believe the balance of high ambient humidity and good consistent wind allow for nearly full sun, of course over a period of years of acclimation. I think the tall pots are particularly helpful as this species tends to throw very long robust roots that won’t stop until they either hit something or get chewed up by snails. I also leave the top of the mix a good 2 inches below the pot’s rim and they tend to circle the sides of the pot this way. This is the only Cattleya I tend to keep in plastic. I don’t subject them winter dryness I do with my warscewiczii and other unifoliates, although I make sure they are bone dry between watering in colder weather. I don’t fertilize much but do place a small amount of Jim’s Purely Organic in a tea bag over the root system from spring to fall.

[Diane56Victor]

Well from what you and Stephen have said it looks like I'm in for at least a 4 year wait!
It will be worth it.
My plant is set back from the dining room window where it gets early morning sunlight then good even light throughout the day from other windows.
Ferts are the usual weakly weekly with a variety of ferts and flushes spread over 6 weeks.