Cattleya lawrenceana

[isurus79]

1 Catt lawrenciana 3-24-2009 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
2 Catt lawrenciana 3-24-2009 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
3 Catt lawrenciana 3-24-2009 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

As usual, these pics are of a first bloom for this particular plant (I usually buy seedlings) and at first I was very happy with the color but very dissapointed with the form. Floppy petals and no uniformity among the rigidity of the different flowers or even among different sides of the same flower! However, after looking at some other pics of this species, it looks like this is not a species with perfectly formed flowers and I might just have to accept that! However, if anyone has any tricks about how to get the form of this species to get better, Im all ears!! FWIW, I did notice better form after I watered the plant, as I had been withholding water from the plant during its dormancy season. Anyway, enjoy!

[LauraN]

Very nice!
Mine just recently bloomed for the first time and like you, I wondered why they were so droopy...
I was just glad to know that it wasn't something I was doing wrong!

[tuvoc]

I think it is perfectly lovely, Steve. Perhaps next year it will bloom a bit better, but some species will never be as 'perfect' as we think they should be, and I don't think that's a bad thing at all.

Kim

[smweaver]

I agree with Kim. Those are beautiful, Steve. And since I don't exhibit my plants and very few orchid shows are held around here, I haven't had an opportunity to develop a discriminating taste (sounds nicer than "acquired prejudice") regarding what is and isn't a quality bloom. Do the flowers of this species produce any fragrance?

Steve

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by smweaver

I agree with Kim. Those are beautiful, Steve. And since I don't exhibit my plants and very few orchid shows are held around here, I haven't had an opportunity to develop a discriminating taste (sounds nicer than "acquired prejudice") regarding what is and isn't a quality bloom. Do the flowers of this species produce any fragrance?

Steve

No fragrance that Ive been able to detect. I also like the term discriminating taste rather than "acquired predjudice!" lol Though, I think both terms fit equally well! lol The reason I mentioned the "imperfect form" of this plant was not so much about the natural imperfections that make each flower unique, but rather the degree to which it was present! Literally, there are flowers where one half bends forward, and the other side backwards and weird stuff like that! Adding some water definitely helped though.

[Becky15349]

Wow idk, I think these are awesome!! Lovely color too!!

[SP2340]

I love it, beutiful color!!

[Rosim_in_BR]

They are nice for a C. lawrenceana, Steve. This species is exactly what you have and hardly better than that as to the form. Most of times looking at the flowers you notice that the petals seem to be longer than the other segments producing an unbalanced look. Some other times the petals curve down or backward. Rare clones have a little rounder petals. But, after my experience, the first flowers are most of times problematic. It seems that the plant is training on how to make them so that they can be better in the subsequent flowerings (well, just a thought !!!). I never dispose of any flowers based only upon the first flowers.

[DebsC]

The color is really pretty! I can't wait until it blooms next time to see if the form improves. However, I don't think it's too bad this blooming and especially for it's first time!