Quote:
Originally Posted by Dorothy
A ruby beauty 
That lip is definitely C. dowiana influenced.
I found the following at this site - Orchid Talk 2006 mailing list messages
"BLC Chia Lin is a complex hybrid containing genetic material from 16 species and 14 of these are fragrant. However nearly half of it's genes are from Cattleya dowiana which is both fragrant and large flowered."
I have a large seedling of 'New City' that continues to grow 
How old do these Catts have to be before they bloom?
Do these mature at 7 years?  |
Yes, Dorothy, most part of Chia Lin is C. dowiana. Interesting is that, for those not much familiar with breeding Cattleyas, the first thought would be: "Being Cattleya dowiana yellow and being Chia Lin half C. dowiana, wouldn't Chia Lin be something lighter than it is?" It happens that, although C. dowiana is yellow, it is a well known effect that when it is crossed with purple/redish parent the progeny will have the purple intensified. That's why Blc. Oconee, Chia Lin etc breeding line is so dark despite having most of their genes from a yellow species!
I also grow 'New City'. It is a tricky plant for me. It needs lots of light otherwise it won't properly bloom, or won't bloom at all. The clone 'Biorchids' is much easier to bloom for me, although high luminosity is needed for it too. Five to six years is the average time needed for this plant to bloom, or when the leading pseudo bulb is as tall as 30-35 cm.
Blc. Chia Lin 'Biorchids'
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