winter blooming catt hybrid recommendations?

[catherinecarney]

Hi all--

Well, I'm in the throes of the Ohio winter doldrums and figured I needed to find a couple of orchids to help me survive it (lol) and was wondering if I could get some recommendations for winter blooming catt hybrids? I'd like the following characteristics if possible:

1: Relatively delicate flowers and stems with flowers held above the foliage. I do like some rufflling, but huge/heavy/waxy flowers aren't as attractive to me.

2: Compact size (love the big ones, but just don't have room--under 15" is best)

3: Prefer "clear" colors--tropic pinks, yellows, etc. Mauves, oranges, burgundies aren't attractive to me.

4: Fragrance--prefer light/citrus/spice.

5: Growing conditions: intermediate range

Thanks in advance!

Catherine

[WhiteRabbit]

[orchidsarefun]

my Rlc Marquettes Canary fits the bill..........but it hasn't bloomed for me this year ! ( but its no mini ). Very fragrant tho, lemony....

Orchids By Hausermann: Blc. Marquette Canary

[AnonYMouse]

This has been in bloom for about a month now.

A bit faded since the pic was taken. It is Lc. Bigtime, picked up in-flower last summer at TJ's.

[catherinecarney]

OOOOOH! I like them both!

Any more recommendations??? Surely I can't be the only one trying to survive this winter by buying more orchids.....

Catherine

[plumania]

I had C. Green Emerald 'Orchid Queen', a bifoliate spotted cattleya with gorgeous frahrance. There are several look alikes with cattleya acclandie if that is something you like.
Also had white/greenish C. Siam Jade which has nice medium fragrance. This is also a bifoliate.
Someone posted Blc Angel Lace recently which is a frilly and very pretty ,clear pink with green throat .It has digbyana in it so probably smells nice but I am not sure.
I would consider looking through recent postings to see what might fit the criteria.
Sorry, being relatively new to orchids, I do not know much.

[catherinecarney]

Thanks, Plumania! I have a bifoliate catt hybrid in bloom right now (clear pink noID), so it seems to be something that might grow for me. I'll check out the three that you listed. And, from one newbie to another, you know more than you realize--don't sell yourself short!

I've been going through the threads (so many orchids, so little time), but I hope that people have favorites that they can recommend that won't necessarily be on the board....It really does help to have a grouping like this that gives an idea of bloom season, too, since catalogs/websites don't always list bloom time or fragrance and the results that the grower gets in the greenhouse may not match what we get in our spaces.

Catherine

[Leafmite]

I was so desperate to buy some new orchids that I was looking for noID phals. I found a nice little aerangis, thankfully.
Just a few years ago, I realized how very large cattleyas can get. I bought mine as cute, little seedlings and had no idea.... Good luck finding what you want. I wish I could help but I don't know much about the mini-cattleyas.

[plumania]

Originally Posted by catherinecarney

Thanks, Plumania! I have a bifoliate catt hybrid in bloom right now (clear pink noID), so it seems to be something that might grow for me. I'll check out the three that you listed. And, from one newbie to another, you know more than you realize--don't sell yourself short!

I've been going through the threads (so many orchids, so little time), but I hope that people have favorites that they can recommend that won't necessarily be on the board....It really does help to have a grouping like this that gives an idea of bloom season, too, since catalogs/websites don't always list bloom time or fragrance and the results that the grower gets in the greenhouse may not match what we get in our spaces.

Catherine

Thanks for the heads up.
Even though you did not want strong fragrance and dark colors, I highly recommend Hauserman's Lc. Betty Ford 'York'. I posted this one recently, still in bloom and smells good all day. Flowers look much better than the picture.Fragrance is like a fine rose with spicy and citrusy notes.
Reminds me of 'Chrysler Imperial' rose fragrance ( I used to grow roses when I lived in colder places. Roses do poorly here in South Florida).

Hope you find something you like.

[catherinecarney]

Yeah, I keep looking at some and then, OMG--they get HOW BIG????!!

Though if I ever strike it rich and build the greenhouse I want I'll have room....Until then I need to stay with compacts and minis and it's been tough to find reliable info on size and bloom time....