Favorite mini-Catts...and just how "mini" is Lc Love Knot? - Orchid Board

Claire25 · #1 06-21-2009, 08:21 PM

Hi there-
I'm new member here, though I've been lurking on this board for quite some time--it's been a great resource for me for the past ten years that I've been growing orchids. My question to everybody is, what are some of your favorite mini-Catts for windowsill growing? And also--for those of you fortunate to own one of the beautiful Lc Love Knot orchids--do they qualify as "mini" Catts? And would they do well on a windowsill?

I had a fantastic collection of orchids a few years ago but major life events intervened (I moved to a tiny apartment, took on a full-time job and college classes, then got married), and so I lost (that is, neglected until they died) many plants and had to give the rest away. My favorite orchid then was a mini Catt, C. Fuschia Doll (Cattleya pumila x Cattleya Sierra Doll)--I grew it into a nice specimen over a period of six years, and its flowers almost seemed to sparkle in the sunlight because of their "diamond-dust" texture. It almost survived the aforementioned orchid Holocaust, too...man, I wish I still had that plant! So, I'm interested in everyone's opinion as to what their faves are among the mini-Catts so that I can look towards rebuilding my collection using some of these plants...for my purposes, the smaller the Catt the better--space is still at a premium for me!

Thanks, all-
Claire

Becca · #2 06-21-2009, 09:20 PM

Hi! I have two Lc. Love Knot plants. I bought them from different places and different times. My first one is nice and compact....very tiny and cute in a small plastic slotted 3-inch pot with about 10 or more p-bulbs growing in it. The second one I got is much taller about double or more the size in height and width of the leaves and p-bulbs. I was skeptical at first that maybe one or the other wasn't really Lc. Love Knot, guess I'll find out if I can ever get them to both bloom! I grow mine under lights and give them high light, so I am not sure about how they would do on a window sill, you can always try it and find out!

Claire25 · #3 06-21-2009, 10:07 PM

Thanks, Becca. That's helpful info for me. I think I am going to have to try a Lc Love Knot, one way or the other--(probably of the coerulea variety)--I just wish I could count on it staying on the (very) petite side.

BTW ever do any dealings with Gold Country Orchids? I'm thinking of ordering from them...seems like they have a great selection!
Claire

Becca · #4 06-21-2009, 10:13 PM

I have never ordered from Gold Country Orchids, but I am very familiar with them. I have heard nothing but good of them, so I'd say go for it! I've come very close to ordering from them, but then had to bring my self back to reality with my space issues...lol.

Have you seen this thread on Lc. Love Knot? Lc. Love Knot 'Carmela'. Well this is what the plant of my first Lc. Love Knot looks like, nice and tiny! I'd say go for one like this....now if I can just get mine to bloom....I'm giving it high lighting so I don't understand what I'm doing wrong. I thought maybe not enough water, but the p-bulbs are nice and plump! Good luck with the one you get!

Claire25 · #5 06-21-2009, 10:29 PM

Thanks! Yeah, I totally am with you on the "space issue" thing. 'Carmela' does indeed look like the perfect size for me.

Sorry to hear that yours seem a bit reluctant to bloom. I'm a little concerned that Love Knot could be a tricky grower (I had some troubles with a C. walkeriana, one of its parents, in the past) but my C. Fuschia Doll did well for me, as does my current species mini Catt (C. luteola), so of course I'm going to go for it. Of course, being able to get flowers would be icing on the cake...

Thanks for the help, and of course good luck with yours, too!