Cattleya eldorado

[peeweelovesbooks]

They are gorgeous!!! These are on my wish-list. Any growing tips???

[smweaver]

I really like the flowers, Mauro, and I would happily add this species to my collection if not for the fact that it prefers year round heat. Maybe one day when I can devote the funds to build a small greenhouse to accommodate strictly warm-growing species, I will have the privilege of growing this one. Congratulations on your plant's flowers. They're fantastic.

Steve

[Eyebabe]

C. eldorado is considered the rarest Cattleya species in cultivation in the United States.
According to Chadwick, it was named by Gustav Wallis in 1866 and is one of the smaller growing Cattleya species.
In the early days of breeding, C. eldorado was hybridized but the results did not produce plants that breeders preferred.
It seems C. eldorado's narrow petals and small size were passes to its progeny.
As far as cultivation, this species requires more heat than the other Cattleya species preferring night temperatures more in the range of 68 to 70 degrees.
It must have a clear cut rest period as well.

Most people who grow C. eldorado in the US have more of a collector's interest due to its difficulty to find as well as grow.

[WhiteRabbit]

beautiful!

[RosieC]

Beautiful Mauro

[Rosim_in_BR]

Thank you all for commenting!

Originally Posted by Cavs n' Orchids

Stunning! The plant looks compact compared to the flowers. Is it a fairly easy grower, or can it be a bit touchy?

Not one of the easiest to grow, Cavs, but also not much difficult as long as you provide warm temps and high air humidity.

Originally Posted by peeweelovesbooks

They are gorgeous!!! These are on my wish-list. Any growing tips???

Take a look at Eyebabe's post in this thread. I would only add that besides warm temps all year round, this species loves high air humidity.

[tuvoc]

I absolutely love this species, Mauro. I tried one a couple of years ago, but it just didn't like the conditions I have. Oh well.

Kim

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by tuvoc

I absolutely love this species, Mauro. I tried one a couple of years ago, but it just didn't like the conditions I have. Oh well.

Kim

It can be a little tricky, Kim, especially if a few conditions are not present. But, this is one of those things we end up learning when we grow orchids: the diversity of requirements is so big, that we simply cannot grow well all the species we love!

[got ants]

Mauro, again your plants and flowers are stunning!!

I've been on the hunt for C. eldorado for two years, and scoured the Redlands Orchid Festival for one or more of these, along with mendelii, gigas (I got of these this year), and a specciosissima (leddenmanniana semi alb fine form).

I've recently seen a few eldos on ebay lately, but I have not been happy with my purchases from there so I will stay on the face to face quest.

Again, beautifully grown orchids!!

[Eyebabe]

Originally Posted by got ants

Mauro, again your plants and flowers are stunning!!

I've been on the hunt for C. eldorado for two years, and scoured the Redlands Orchid Festival for one or more of these, along with mendelii, gigas (I got of these this year), and a specciosissima (leddenmanniana semi alb fine form).

I've recently seen a few eldos on ebay lately, but I have not been happy with my purchases from there so I will stay on the face to face quest.

Again, beautifully grown orchids!!

I got my C. eldorado from Bela Vista.
I emailed them prior to the Redland Orchid Festival and then they shipped it to me after they arrived here.
The damage would have been worse had I actually been able to attend the festival
Where there's a will there's a way....obsession is an art