some recent Cattleya lueddemannianas - Orchid Board

Jeff214 · #1 01-20-2023, 08:38 PM

I bought a couple of small seedlings and backbulbs of C. lueddemanniana a few years ago and they've started to spike this winter. Here are the first ones that have bloomed. All have a pleasant sweet floral fragrance thats strong in the morning.

I've been growing it indoors all year since I believe these tend to like it a bit warmer than the other catts. Seems pretty easy to grow!

Louis_W · #2 01-20-2023, 11:36 PM

Beautiful! Makes me want more grow space...

orchidman77 · #3 01-21-2023, 12:49 PM

Wonderful blooms, Jeff - I have a compot of luedd seedlings that I recently got via Troy Meyers, so this is encouraging. I particularly love the really long outstretched petals of the first plant! It's like it wants a hug, lol.

David

Jeff214 · #4 01-22-2023, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louis_W

Beautiful! Makes me want more grow space...

These are rambly... but nothing a few kabob skewers and twist ties can't keep it tidy and compact-ish

isurus79 · #5 01-23-2023, 02:06 PM

Really nice! This time of year is always a favorite of mine due to the blooming lueddemanniana!

smweaver · #6 01-23-2023, 02:13 PM

Brilliant blooms from a species that hates me. Sigh...

isurus79 · #7 01-23-2023, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smweaver

Brilliant blooms from a species that hates me. Sigh...

Really? I haven't found this one to need different care than any other Cattleya species.

smweaver · #8 01-23-2023, 05:15 PM

I don't think I have kept them warm enough during the winter. At least that's the only thing that I can think of. The plants I've had in the past don't immediately collapse and die on me, but there's definitely a slow deterioration in their health. And I've attempted to grow this species numerous times in the past, without any difference in outcomes. Since my C. trianaei (currently in bloom), mossiae, labiata, percivaliana, bicolor, amethystoglossa and walkeriana plants all perform just fine for me, I really don't know what in my cultural practice is not to C. lueddemanniana's liking. I'm pretty sure it's the cool winter nights that's the culprit (although, of course, this is just an opinion).

Roberta · #9 01-23-2023, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smweaver

I don't think I have kept them warm enough during the winter. At least that's the only thing that I can think of. The plants I've had in the past don't immediately collapse and die on me, but there's definitely a slow deterioration in their health. And I've attempted to grow this species numerous times in the past, without any difference in outcomes. Since my C. trianaei (currently in bloom), mossiae, labiata, percivaliana, bicolor, amethystoglossa and walkeriana plants all perform just fine for me, I really don't know what in my cultural practice is not to C. lueddemanniana's liking. I'm pretty sure it's the cool winter nights that's the culprit (although, of course, this is just an opinion).

You're probably right on the temperature... C. lueddemanniana definitely needs to be warmer than the others that you listed. I have just one... all that I can manage in a relatively big plant with my limited GH space. I grow all the others that you have listed except for amethystoglossa outside, so I know that they can tolerate temperatures down to the low 40's F. C. lueddemanniana no way, definitely needs the GH (where it gets nights not below around 60 deg F.)

smweaver · #10 01-23-2023, 05:53 PM

Due to everything else that I grow, I have to keep the night temperatures in the low to mid 50's (even dropping into the high 40's hasn't bothered any of the other species that I have). So I think I've had enough trial-and-error experiments with poor Cattleya lueddemanniana. I'll leave members of her family alone from now on.