"The Wedding Cattleya" (NOID)

[geogeo21]

could it be you didnt win because you didn't really know it hybrid name?

[Wrebbitrocks]

its BEAUTIFUL. i wouldnt mind a backulb of this anyday. wish i could find cattleyas like this at the store

[InspirChid1712]

Originally Posted by Franco24

Simply stunning! Would you mind if I sent you a couple of my Cattleya species to be grown out into specimens and returned? You're obviously doing something right! LOL

HAHA! I would help you if I could, but I am MAXED OUT on window space! I already won't get blooms from 1/3 of my plants because of poor light and temperature issues. I have only one good window for orchids since moving to this house, so that prime real-estate went to my best plants. The others are in a heavily shaded south window (shaded due to the front porch), and I am certain they aren't getting proper light. Kind of disappointing, but maybe they'll do something when they go outside in spring. Anyhoo, if ever you need advice, don't hesitate to ask! I'll help if I can!

[InspirChid1712]

Originally Posted by geogeo21

could it be you didnt win because you didn't really know it hybrid name?

That may have had something to do with it, but NOIDs have won before. I think the reason may be that I win ribbons at every meeting, so maybe they are trying to give somebody else a chance. I'm not to worried about it... its all in good fun, and I love to see the other members' plants!!!

[InspirChid1712]

Originally Posted by Wrebbitrocks

its BEAUTIFUL. i wouldnt mind a backulb of this anyday. wish i could find cattleyas like this at the store

I'd be glad to send you a piece! I used to live in Tucson... went to the UofA for cello performance! (got this plant right after I moved back to Pittsburgh, actually!) I had a really tough time with orchids out there. Light is PLENTIFUL all year, but trying to keep them watered and humid is an uphill battle! (the swamp coolers help, though!) How are you growing your plants???

[escualida]

I'll take a piece too if you have more to give

[Wrebbitrocks]

Originally Posted by InspirChid1712

I'd be glad to send you a piece! I used to live in Tucson... went to the UofA for cello performance! (got this plant right after I moved back to Pittsburgh, actually!) I had a really tough time with orchids out there. Light is PLENTIFUL all year, but trying to keep them watered and humid is an uphill battle! (the swamp coolers help, though!) How are you growing your plants???

wow such a small world! actually i struggle to grow them, its just selective what grows and what doesnt so kind of expensive but thats why i got into backbulbs because so many people have given me free pieces of plant or at most a minimal price and they seem to be doing ok... i have 120 plants. summer outdoors and winter inside. some of my plants are blooming

[InspirChid1712]

Originally Posted by Wrebbitrocks

wow such a small world! actually i struggle to grow them, its just selective what grows and what doesnt so kind of expensive but thats why i got into backbulbs because so many people have given me free pieces of plant or at most a minimal price and they seem to be doing ok... i have 120 plants. summer outdoors and winter inside. some of my plants are blooming

WOAH! I wouldn't suggest growing orchids outdoors in Tucson! I tried that and failed miserably! They are rainforest plants, so they like to be warm, humid, and breezy. The desert is far to HOT and dry! My advice is mist them heavily every day, and water every few days... they will love you for it! :-D

[Wrebbitrocks]

lol thats everyones first reponse to that but i did it successfully this year. sure a couple plants did burn but for the most part they did fine and grew very healthy outside. northern exposure inbetween my foundation planting so they are shaded all day but since its bright out they still got plenty of light and direct morning sun. i planted a few trees out to get some shaded dappled areas in a couple years. watering every weekend and the area stays moist because its cooler than the rest of the yard. winter now, its hard cuz it gets too cold sometimes. i had snow falling 2 days ago, just to tell you and my greenhouse im building is too cold still untill i get a large heater

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by InspirChid1712

Hi everybody!

Its the best time of year for one of my FAVORITE and largest plants! I got it at a grocery store about 5 years ago as a small plant in a 6" pot with a few nice blooms. Every year since, it has grown VIGOROUSLY and bloomed profusely, despite less-than-ideal conditions at times. The plant has no name (I suspect Lc. Puppy Love... hard to tell though!), and I have used its blooms for both my Sister's and my friend Erica's bridal bouquets. Since it always seems to be blooming around a wedding, I simply refer to it as "The Wedding Cattleya"!

Its now in a 10" pot in a mix of osmunda and large stryofoam chunks and stands 2' tall and 3' wide! It tends to bloom a few times a year, but this cycle always has the most grand display... 26 flowers this time! I am taking it to my orchid society meeting tonight, and hoping for a ribbon on the show table!

Enjoy!!!
PS- I wouldn't be opposed to slicing off a division or two in the spring if anybody wants one. This plant would grow and bloom through nuclear war...!

This is really a stunning specimen; this is clear results from great growing. The orchid never lies!
As for a division in the spring, I certainly will seriously take you up on that offer! Well Jamaica isn't actually the equivalent of nuclear war but I'm sure a division wouldn't mind an island vacation!