Longest lasting flowers

[Cewal]

Please give me some ideas of which Cattleyas have the longest lasting flowers.

[Leafmite]

I don't really know. That is a very good question. I hope someone has an answer for you. I have been concentrating on the ones that bloom multiple times a year.
You might try calling Hausermann's and asking them. They are really nice and have been hybridizing, raising and selling Cattleyas for a long time. They might just know the answer.

---------- Post added at 08:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:42 PM ----------

Are you looking for species Cattleyas or hybrids?

[Cewal]

Thanks - I will try Hausermann's. I don't really have a preference between species and hybrids. (Actually, I prefer species but sometimes they seem harder to grow). Which cattleyas bloom more than once a year?

[rochelle@58]

Hi there -
The first one that comes to mind is Hausermann's Sultan 'summer spectacular'. Im in the house and I am guessing that its a BLC but not sure. The flowers are about 4 " across and they have a rich spicy fragrance! They grow several to a spike. Good luck!

[Cewal]

Thanks. I'm going to check out Hausermann's online.

[Leafmite]

Quite a few bloom more than once a year, actually. If ordering from Hausermann's, just ask which Cattleyas do. If they say winter bloomer, it only blooms once a year. If it is spring and fall, it blooms twice a year.
I like fragrant, smaller orchids so that limits what I buy in the Cattleya range. I have many Cattleyas that bloom just once a year but C. luteola, C. aclandiae, the two C. Mini Purples, Pot. Burana Beauty and C. Your Mine 'NN' all bloom more than once a year.

[Fairorchids]

Many of the miniature to miniature/compact Catts bloom twice a year, and a few even 3 times (every time a new growth matures). If you go to Sunset Valley Orchids, check the descriptions of each cross.

I have also noticed that several of my full size Catts set two new growths in the course of the year. They then bloom on the older growth first, and 3-6 weeks later on the younger growth. So, while individual flowers only last +/-3 weeks, I do get to enjoy them for 6+ weeks. I have seen this pattern in:
C. Persian Glory 'Road To China', a splash petal standard
RLC Samba Splendor 'Puerto Rico', a compact/standard with intense color
C. Bouncing Rosie (standard pink x loddigesii cross)

I have 4 of the latter, and they all evidence this trait.

[NeofinetiaCanada2014]

Your original question was which flowers last the longest on cattleyas. I think it wasn't answered properly. Most cattleya species flowers last 10-14 days but some do last longer; trianae, schroederae and eldorado (syn. wallisii) can last 3-6 weeks!

And if they have multiple leads, and each maturing at slightly different time, they can bloom sequentially over the season. For example my wallisii has a second growth that's blooming one month after the other new growth, extending the plant's bloom period over 8-10 weeks.

Although most species bloom once a season, some do bloom twice, on rare occasions on big plants. For example, lueddemania (spring, winter) and eldorado (summer, winter). Some like jenmanii and labiatas can bloom off period in fall or winter.

Hybrids can bloom several times a year (2-3 times) as each growth matures but flowers last the typical 1-2 weeks at most.

Hope this helps your original inquest...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Leafmite]

Some of the Brassavola nodosa and Brassavola-Cattleya hybrids can last quite a long time under the right conditions. I am guessing that if you ask Hausermann's, they will probably recommend a Blc. of some type for long-lasting blooms.

As for orchids in general, some of the Phal-type Dendrobiums (the ones with the spikes that look like Phals) can be in bloom almost year-round if given good conditions. The blooms last about two and a half months and they send out spikes four times a year (blooming off old canes, too).

There are also some mini-orchids that can be in bloom most of the time (Haraella rectrocalla, Platystele stenostachya, Lepanthes telipogoniflora). Of course, these are very small blooms and not nearly as impressive as the Cattleyas.

[euplusia]

In general the lower temps in wintertime extend durability. C. trianae can last four weeks. But Cymbidium flowers in a cool house last much longer.