Cattleya nobilior var. amaliae- NOOOOO!!!

[isurus79]

The spike bent under the flower's weight and I only got to see half open flowers before they started senescence. At least I got the pollen.

Cattleya nobilior amaliae - NOOOOOOO!!! by Stephen Van Kampen-Lewis, on Flickr

[smweaver]

That's awful. Hopefully the pollen was mature. How long were the blooms open?

[isurus79]

They opened up to the position you see here for a few days and the top flower started dying. I harvested the pollen ASAP.

Want some?

[smweaver]

Good that you got the pollen--and strange that they died so quickly.

No thank you to the generous offer of pollen. I think I already have my hands full around here--and the arrival of bottles of baby orchids might be grounds for the initiation of divorce proceedings. So I'll be content with what I already have. :-)

[isurus79]

Well, if anyone has need for amaliae pollen I've got it available. All I ask in return is a flask!

I think I tried to send Subrosa pollen last year at this time but a brand new baby around the house prevented a trip to the post office.

[Anglo]

I had this (or something like it) happen once with a C. intermedia. A very premature aging of the flowers. It was just a one-time thing with that plant, so maybe your luck with this nobilior's next flowering will be better.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Anglo

I had this (or something like it) happen once with a C. intermedia. A very premature aging of the flowers. It was just a one-time thing with that plant, so maybe your luck with this nobilior's next flowering will be better.

Ya, the inflorescence was bent when I got home from work one day as the blooms were opening. I think I'll have to stake it differently next year.

[sam1147]

Next year

[SaraJean]

Bummer, pretty color though!