Cattleya walkeriana var. caerulea

[Rosim_in_BR]

Here's my specimen plant. There are flowers almost all around the pot! The fragrance is strong and spreads around leaving no option other than stopping and smelling!

[Royal]

Wow, that's incredible! Wonderful job, Mauro. The photo captures many shades of blue. Impressive.

[isurus79]

Very impressive indeed! Does this one have any media left in its pot?

[RosieC]

Wonderful looking, great growing

[catwalker808]

Very nice Rosim. It's almost August and late summer in the northern hemisphere. It must still be winter in Brazil. What are your temps like, say in June, July, Aug, Sept?

We do have a wet winter and dry summer, with spring and fall in between, but we don't have a true winter. My C. walkerianas bloom twice a year (same plant), once in late fall (Nov-Dec) and a second time between Jan and April (depending on the temps). I know that most places bloom once, but a few places also bloom a second time.

I find that the flower quality of my early spring bloom is much better because of the cooler temps 15-16 C nights, 22-25 days. Late fall is still 21-22 C nights, 25-28 days.

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Very impressive indeed! Does this one have any media left in its pot?

It hadn't any more medium, but then early this year I filled the pot again with some sphagnum, Steve!

Originally Posted by catwalker808

Very nice Rosim. It's almost August and late summer in the northern hemisphere. It must still be winter in Brazil. What are your temps like, say in June, July, Aug, Sept?

We do have a wet winter and dry summer, with spring and fall in between, but we don't have a true winter. My C. walkerianas bloom twice a year (same plant), once in late fall (Nov-Dec) and a second time between Jan and April (depending on the temps). I know that most places bloom once, but a few places also bloom a second time.

I find that the flower quality of my early spring bloom is much better because of the cooler temps 15-16 C nights, 22-25 days. Late fall is still 21-22 C nights, 25-28 days.

Yes, it's winter here. In my area winter is cold, windy and dry, very dry. We have wildfires every year due to the dryness. The cold and dry period goes from June through September more or less. Day temps vary, but can be said to be between 18-24ºC, but mornings are colder than that. Night temps use to be 8-12ºC, but can often be freezing when we're hit by the cold waves coming from the South Pole - temps go as low as 4ºC, sometimes close to 0ºC, especially in the dawn . These are typical for July and August. June and September are cold months, but a little less than that. Important, I am at 940m asl.

[Cookiemonster]

I love love this one Mauro !!!! Spectacular plant is taking over the pot
Anyways I didnt know older coerulea flowers became pale with age!
Thank you for sharing!

[kinknstein]

Fantastic Mauro!! Great growing!!!

[catwalker808]

Thanks for the info Rosim. How many bulbs do you grow each year and how many blooms (on the same plant) ?

Sounds like your winter temps are a bit cooler than ours ... especially the cold fronts. What about your summer temps? You must also be cooler since you're up fairly high.

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by catwalker808

Thanks for the info Rosim. How many bulbs do you grow each year and how many blooms (on the same plant) ?

Sounds like your winter temps are a bit cooler than ours ... especially the cold fronts. What about your summer temps? You must also be cooler since you're up fairly high.

Man, I never did count them (p-bulbs), but I'd say at least 5-6 the last year, because I count 5 spikes with 11 flowers total.
Summer days are hot, with temps between 26-30/32º C, but nights are always fresher than the days, around 20ºC.