Cattleya lueddemanniana

[Rosim_in_BR]

Here's a species that I really am not skilled to grow! I use to have hard times trying to get flowers from these plants. This is a trouble seedling that had reached maturity times ago without flowering. Then something happened and it got back to the seedling condition again. Now, recovered, it shows its face for the first time, but the plant is not strong as it should be yet, and this can be seen in the flower. Anyway, I finally see it!!

[Tindomul]

Well congratulations. You have earned your merit petals. LOL. Very beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

[Chubidubi]

Very gorgeous bloom, Mauro.

[Swamper]

beautiful lip on her, love that touch of yellow too

[Stefan]

great job mauro,
this shows that even you are only human, and that orchids still can get the better of you, lol.
well donr agian, beautiful bloom.

stefan

[isurus79]

Mauro,
Im curious, what makes lueddemanniana so difficult for you? Are your cultural conditions too different or is this species a particularly finicky one? I dont personally have one of these (yet), but Im curious for my own reference. As always, thanks for any info!

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by Stefan

great job mauro,
this shows that even you are only human, and that orchids still can get the better of you, lol.
well donr agian, beautiful bloom.

stefan

You bet, Stefan, I'm only human! There's a lot of orchids I can't grow well!

Originally Posted by isurus79

Mauro,
Im curious, what makes lueddemanniana so difficult for you? Are your cultural conditions too different or is this species a particularly finicky one? I dont personally have one of these (yet), but Im curious for my own reference. As always, thanks for any info!

Honestly, Steve, I don't know! This species really frustrates me. I used to grow it the same way I grow my other unifoliate Cattleyas and always had poor results. Then, a year ago I decided to change the media I used to use (tree fern fiber and plastic pots) to sphagnum and clay pots. I guess I finally hit the nail on the head because I got a flower from this and the several other seedlings I grow (caerulea, concolor, dark, suavissima, semi-alba etc) are all well rooted and having a consistent development now. So, I can only think that, for my general growing condition, the combination tree fern fiber/plastic pot was not satisfactory for this species. This is a little bit strange, because some of my friends who grow luedemmanniana use tree fern fiber and get well-developed plants. Go figure!

[Shirley]

Mauro, I didn't think I would ever see an orchid that gave you difficulty! That flower has beautiful coloring! Congratulations!

[Roly0217]

Mauro regardless of the difficulty it gave you the bloom is still gorgeous. I've got a blooming size of this one. No blooms for me yet. Hoprfully I'll get some this winter.