Free Blooming Cattleya Hybrids (Species Also Welcome)

[Libo]

Hi guys! It has been a long time since my last post. Well, it's because I had a new job and now I am living in Chicago! Along with the moving, I realize that I have to live with my orchids in my apartment, probably for a long time...That brings up the question about the suitable orchids to grow under light. I have a metal halide, so intensity is not the problem. I have one catt having so many sheath without a bloom. Daylength is the problem! It's easy to control the light on time, what about the off time? I live in an apartment, I can't turn my light off when the sun falls! So, I guess I am stuck with free bloomers. That gave me the idea of having a list of free blooming catt hybrids suited for people like me. We don't have a sticker in the catt alliance yet, maybe this is a good idea to begin with? Please

To make the selection easier for people, I would suggest posting a picture as well as the size of the plant as well.
I'll start first. So far, most of the flowers I posted here are free blooming for me. But I'll post here again for reference. I'll add more if more prove to be the case. Please share your list as well. The more the better!

1. Blc. Husky boy 'Romeo'

Rlc. Husky Boy 'Romeo' by ~Libo~, on Flickr

This one never failed to bloom. Always developed buds right after/or even before the new growth matures. And it's getting better with more bloom. Size is also adorable, hight about 6 inch, flower size 2-2.5inch.

2. Slc. Jeweler's Art 'Waiomao Plum'

C. Jeweler's Art 'Waiomao Plum' by ~Libo~, on Flickr

This one is also a frequent bloomer. So far I haven't seen it develop a sheath without blooming. But some growth do not produce flowers. IMO not as reliable as husky boys. Size under 9 inch, flower can get to 3.5 inch.

3. Bc. Hoku Gem 'Freckles'/'Sun spots'

Bc. Hoku Gem 'Freckles' by ~Libo~, on Flickr

Bc. Hoku Gem 'Freckles' by ~Libo~, on Flickr

This one I have to recommend to everybody. Everybody! This is a charming Richard mueller hybrid which changes color over time from red to yellow. You will have a lot of flowers with different color and shades on the same plant. Marble branch farms said in their description that their speciemen plant never stopped blooming for several years. You can also go to their site to see the wonderful scene of differnt colors of flower on the same spike. Mature size should be compact, flowers on mature plant around 3inch.

4. Pcv. Golden Peacock 'Orange Beauty'

Pcv. Golden Peacock 'Orange Beauty' by ~Libo~, on Flickr

Another Richard Mueller hybrid. THis one is bright orange and the flowers are long lasting. My last batch of flowers just died a month ago and now it is in spike again. Not sure about mature size, probably less than 12 inch. I have seen up to 15 flowers per spike. Maybe more!

5. Bl Yellow Bird (Recommended by Cav's n Orchid)
Picture see reference from little frog

This one is also a Richard Mueller hybrid, which is a back cross to B. nodosa. I have seen people have a ball of more than 200 yellow flowers on a specimen plant once. It seems that Richard Mueller has that free blooming gene in it. Let's see if there are other hybrid from this parent.

[Bud]

My goodness ! you have bright and beautiful flowers...keep up the good work, dont let apartment dwelling deter you from growing any kind of orchid...

[Cavs n' Orchids]

Great pictures!! I looove the nodosa hybrids! I have Bl Yellow Bird, and it is also super free flowering. It also grows like a weed, but seems to need tons of sun to flower well. Have you tried any walkeriana hybrids? I am hoping to start collecting some S. coccinea hybrids this spring. I love their small plant size and large round flowers!

[Bud]

I am in constant search for a red coccinea specimen that would flower like a bridal bouquet

[Libo]

Originally Posted by Cavs n' Orchids

Great pictures!! I looove the nodosa hybrids! I have Bl Yellow Bird, and it is also super free flowering. It also grows like a weed, but seems to need tons of sun to flower well. Have you tried any walkeriana hybrids? I am hoping to start collecting some S. coccinea hybrids this spring. I love their small plant size and large round flowers!

Thanks for the input! I have a young Yellow bird so I don't have any pictures yet. Let's just use a picture on the forum for reference.


For Walkeriana, I have a Lc mini purple'Blue Hawaii', no flower yet, so don't know if it is free flowering or not. Please keep it coming

---------- Post added at 08:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:15 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Bud

I am in constant search for a red coccinea specimen that would flower like a bridal bouquet

That I would recommend Slc. Bright Angel. I am not sure if it is free blooming, but it is a very intense red mini catt with less than 4 inch growth.

[Stray59]

Thanks for the photo posts - your plants are great... and good quality pics also.
I would also suggest Sophronitis coccinea if you have a bright cool window. I have two which are blooming well and they are in a poorly insulated north window. To get the large blooms, you have to go with the 4N hybrids - they are also more vigorous.
I would also suggest Slc. Jewel Box 'Dark waters' - it blooms very freely, has wide range of conditions that it will adapt to and is a phenomenal red. There are other siblings like 'Scheherazade', but I have not been able to locate any of this strain available. Several Jewel Box hybrids are award winners.
I also recommend good old Brassovola nodosa, for the easy growth, floriferous nature and the sweet fragrance at night.
Many of your Slc. or Potinara hybrids will reward you with many blooms, miniature or compact growth, and often, fragrance.
Most of the mini-cats were bred in the late 1800's, forgotten for a while and then re-introduced, hybridized and marketed after 1960; currently the Japanese market is driving miniature orc's that can be grown in the home due to their space restraints.
Well, that's my two cents worth! Good luck in your search -
Have a Happy New Year!
Steve

[tucker85]

Mini-catts have become very popular lately. They require less space, less light and bloom more often than the big catts. I grow outdoors in Florida so I won't go into my favorites because I don't know how well they'll do indoors. But here are some excellent vendors for mini-catts.

Gold Country Orchids My favorite source for top quality mini-catts with good descriptions and pictures. Look for blooming size plants. The non-blooming size can take a few years to bloom.

index.html Another good source of mini-catts but again, many are just seedlings so look for blooming or near blooming size plants.

Sunset Valley Orchids - Grower and hybridizer of quality orchids, Vista CA Fred Clarke at Sunset Valley Orchids is one of the top breeders of mini-catts in the country but most of the plants listed are new crosses with no picture. Contact him by e-mail for suggestions on specific plants.

[InspirChid1712]

Here are a few that bloom religiously for me despite occasional abuse:

-Epc. Landwoods "NN" (lime green and FRAGRANT, flowers several times a year)
-Guarianthe aurantiaca (vibrant orange, spring blooms)
-Blc. Mem. Crispin Rosales "Carmela" AM/AOS (GORGEOUS purple, 8" blooms, flowers a few times per year)
-Lc. Tropical Pointer "Cheetah" BM/JOGA (sunset colors and spots!, blooms ALOT, peak in summer)
-Prosthechea cochleata (Easiest plant in the world, blooms ALLLLL summer long!)

[bballr4567]

Thanks for that link Tucker! Gold country has a lot of small stuff that I've had a really hard time finding.

[isurus79]

I think just about any of the nodosa hybrids are pretty free blooming. I have only been growing in an apartment for a few years and have a highland variety of the Catt. maxima that has been blooming for me for a few weeks. It is the small statured variety, so won't be as much of a space hog as the lowland (ie. tall!!) varieties and doesn't seem to mind night time lights/television. Here is a recent pic:


Cattleya maxima by Isurus79, on Flickr