Building a Cattleya Collection

[peeweelovesbooks]

So,

I've officially fallen in love with Catts, and I want to start a collection.

So, in your opinion, what are the classics, must have's and/or just plain old gorgeous catts?

Please make suggestions and why this is your favorite. Also, its cultural requirements if not the usual.


Also, which are the reputable online vendors for catts?

Thanks a million and happy growing.

[quiltergal]

Do you have a preference on form? I personally am not fond of the big floofy Catts. I have one and it's pretty but it doesn't speak to me like some of the smaller simpler ones. Is fragrance important? Color?

I'd recommend browsing Take a few minutes and browse our online store , and also H&R Nurseries Orchids . Both vendors are very reputable and have a very nice unusual selection of Catts and other things.

[SP2340]

Two of my personal favorites are the Cattleya Landate and the Aurantiaca. I like the Landate because of it's odd colors and the Auantiaca because I love bright orange! Good luck!

[peeweelovesbooks]

Originally Posted by quiltergal

Do you have a preference on form? I personally am not fond of the big floofy Catts. I have one and it's pretty but it doesn't speak to me like some of the smaller simpler ones. Is fragrance important? Color?

I'd recommend browsing Take a few minutes and browse our online store , and also H&R Nurseries Orchids . Both vendors are very reputable and have a very nice unusual selection of Catts and other things.

Hi there and thanks for your response. I love BIG floofy cats, I love bright colors, but I also love pure color saturation. I don't like the sherbert colored ones--The most I like is the orchids with a little splashing but not too much. I also like very elegant catts-If you can describe them as such. I am very much drawn to whites for some reason.

Scent? Well,absolutely, but it's not a must.

[peeweelovesbooks]

Oh, and I tend to lean away from purples...in all flowers.

[kavanaru]

I would say...

Cattleya lueddemanniana (excellent albas and semi-albas, as well as coeruleas)
Cattleya mossiae (a must!)
Cattleya skinneri (now Guarianthe skinneri) - Beautiful albas and semi albas (var. oculata, is just great!)
Cattleya violacea (living in Miami, you should be able to provide right conditions for this one)

and the hybrids

Blc. Eagle Eye 'All Victory' (white)
Blc. Triumphal Coronation (Pink and Yellow)
Epicattleya Siam Jade (Green and whitw)
Lc. Su Nan Hwi 'J.D.' (very dark purple)

[Cookiemonster]

Welcome to the highly addictive and evil world of the Cattleya Alliance heheh

Where to begin?! Just look online and see what you have a taste for- read the culture for the cattleyas, laelias ect and see if you can meet them- if so try a few things of a larger size 4inch pots + from a healthy reputable vendor and test the waters

I wouldnt go all crazy at first, I tried that with vandas and ended up killing very many of them.

I personally love Laelia Pupurata family and the classical whites, Jose Marti, Bob Betts, Bow Bells, Carl Hausermann,

I hth!! Good luck

[dounoharm]

i like the selection at hausermanns....in particular a white, jose marti 'mothers favorite'...its very large, makes a statement (floofy), and is very fragrant....also epicatt siam jade 'avo'...it is green and white, about a 4"-5" flower and very fragrant...both of these have excellent form and growth habit...the siam jade is very compact, while mothers fav tends to the standard sloppy big cattleya growth....any catt species will be a star in your collection also, but i am very fond of brassavola digbyana with its frilly lip and serious fragrance. good luck and have fun!

[DebsC]

Welcome to the cattleya passion! My first piece of advice to you would be to take your time! Do your homework. Make a list of what you feel you really want in a flower, color, fragrance, bloom time and frequency. and size.

Taste's change as the collection grows. What you might consider unacceptable now could be something you learn to love later.

Flowering any cattleya is rewarding but growing one well is even more rewarding.

Good luck and above all have fun!!!

[nhman]

Alot depends if you are planning on growing indoors by window, indoors by artificial lights, outside or in a greenhouse. Obviously, there are growing situations where you may wish to further select by the Catt size.
As for online vendors, I have had great luck with Ha'iku Orchids of Maui, Exotic Orchids of Maui and Kawamoto orchids. I have never gotten a plant that wasn't healthy, pest and disease free and shipped with at least one free gift too. Service from these retailers has been excellent and their selection is great - kinda makes one feel like a kid in a candy store....."Let's see, I'll get this one, oh and this one........and this one too........and there's another one."
You get the point! Enjoy and good luck!!