Cattleya doing something strange??

[tucker85]

That's the normal way that C. walkeriana blooms. The blooming growths each start from the side of a pseudobulb and never turn into full pseudobulbs themselves. C. walkeriana does not have sheaths either. Your orchid is a cross between C. Aloha Case and Rth. Angel Kiss. C. Aloha Case is two thirds walkeriana and blooms in the same manner as walkeriana. Don't try to open the leaf around the buds and try not to get water in there.

[silken]

Thanks everyone for the info. Learned something new again on Orchid Board I'll post another picture when the bud/s get out and when it blooms.

So will the next new growth come from this or how does a walkeriana grow leaves and proper pseudobulbs? I guess I need to get me one of them now as I've always wanted one!

[tucker85]

Originally Posted by silken

Thanks everyone for the info. Learned something new again on Orchid Board I'll post another picture when the bud/s get out and when it blooms.

So will the next new growth come from this or how does a walkeriana grow leaves and proper pseudobulbs? I guess I need to get me one of them now as I've always wanted one!

Yes, the new pseudobulb can grow from a continuation of the rhizome that will look like it comes from the flower spike. Although sometimes the new growth will start from the bigger pseudobulb. The appendage that blooms will remain green like the pseudobulbs and usually forms a little leaf about half the size of a normal leaf. I'm not sure I would recommend that you buy a C. walkeriana, they can be difficult to bloom if the environment isn't perfect. In fact I gave away the two I had for that reason. I like C. Aloha Case which is 2/3 walkeriana and looks just like the species, but it flowers more easily. Many vendors carry them. I got mine from Carmela's.

[silken]

Originally Posted by tucker85

Yes, the new pseudobulb can grow from a continuation of the rhizome that will look like it comes from the flower spike. Although sometimes the new growth will start from the bigger pseudobulb. The appendage that blooms will remain green like the pseudobulbs and usually forms a little leaf about half the size of a normal leaf. I'm not sure I would recommend that you buy a C. walkeriana, they can be difficult to bloom if the environment isn't perfect. In fact I gave away the two I had for that reason. I like C. Aloha Case which is 2/3 walkeriana and looks just like the species, but it flowers more easily. Many vendors carry them. I got mine from Carmela's.

OK, good to know. It will be interesting to see how this small plant grows after the blooms. I see Ching Hua has an Aloha Case clone and they will be at the orchid show in 3 weeks. I already pre-ordered other things and their cut off was yesterday for ordering. But they might have some with them or some other time I might get one. I already went over my limit

[tucker85]

This isn't a good picture but this is my C. Aloha Case that is just now starting to bloom. I know it looks like it's blooming from the pseudobulb but that's because I tie the flower spike to the pseudobulb to make it stronger and stand up better. This plant has 18 buds on it right now. As you can see it likes to dry very quickly and get lots of air to the roots.

[Bud]

Jeff, that is just gorgeous bouquet of blooms....

[silken]

Very nice plant! Do the blooms last fairly long?

[tucker85]

Originally Posted by silken

Very nice plant! Do the blooms last fairly long?

About average for a cattleya. Maybe 4 weeks. Now that this plant is large, some buds bloom later than others so it will have some flowers on it for a couple of months. It is a fast grower and it's very fragrant.