Cattleya (Slc.) Psyche ‘China’ X self

[MattWoelfsen]

I purchased a flask from eBay vendor Mab360 on April 01, 2014. According to Mab360, he "made this flask from a selfing of the original awarded Cattleya Psyche ‘China’. This plant received a AM of 84 points in 1977! Psyche is great primary hybrid between Cattleya (Laelia) cinnabarina x Cattleya (Sophronitis coccinea). This flask will yield some plants better than China and some less. This is much better than a cloning as you may get something real special! The name Psyche may not ring a bell but it the parent of many awarded plants (ie. Precious Stones, Marathon, and many more) and a great primary hybrid."

These are photos from the vendor:

The flower:


Cattleya Psyche 'China' by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

The flask

Cattleya Psyche 'China' by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

When I deflasked, I got 26 seedlings. Today I had the time to repot them in their individual pots. I ended up with 3 compots, two pots with two plants, and one pot with three seedlings. 13 individual pots. Here are my little seedlings:



I'm trying a new mix: one part charcoal, one part LECA, one part Orchiata, and one part grow stones. This is a very porous mix but the LECA and grow stones absorbs water and releases moisture in the drying process. I also line the bottom of each pot with NZ sphagnum moss. In the winter I water my Laelia hybrids by putting them in pans of water so that the moisture wicks up into the pot.