Cattleya warscewiczii 'Caliman'

[Kim Brown]

I ordered a Cattleya warscewiczii three months ago, and it arrived with several old backbulbs, the oldest without leaves, and new growth. In those three months, that new growth has gone from less than two inches to a tall, curving spike with six open flowers. The new growth was outside the pot, and staking it was not easy. The fragrance was initially unpleasant - like that particular smell that sick people on medication sometimes have (not trying to be insensitive). A few days later, a hyacinth-like quality has become dominant. The flowers are some six inches across, but I've read that they can be much larger with this species.

This is my first C. warscewiczii, btw., and I was wondering if anyone here has any experience growing it?

-How to I give it a rest after flowering? Is it simply a case of cutting back on water and fertilizer?

-Can I divide it when I repot it when new roots start to form? The plant is near unmanageable in size and growing out of the pot, so a repotting at least is a must.

[Bohata]

Go ahead and divide it when roots start if you can leave at least three, or even better, four bulbs per division.

[Kim Brown]

Thanks, Bohata! Does it matter that one division will be four old backbulbs with no leaves? Can the division establish itself on bulbs alone? I think my plant (not looking at it right now) has five or six leafless backbulbs and six or seven "newer" bulbs with leaves.

[Bohata]

It is possible as long as they aren't too far gone. One of the dormant buds may be induced to wake up and produce a new pseudobulb at the base of which there will be new roots. It will be some time before it blooms, though.

[Kim Brown]

Thanks! There is dormant growing point on one of the backbulbs, so I'll give it a shot. At least I'll have reduced the plant to a more manageable (but stil large) size.

[bogdan]

Gorgeous flowers. I almost got a sanderiana with a recent order but declined due to its size. The flowers do deserve a big space for the plant to develop in.

[Kim Brown]

It's definitely a big plant in my small apartment, but I'm very much attracted to huge flowers.

I actually ordered a second C. warscewiczii recently, but I may end up selling the plant I like the least if they are too similar.

On a related note, my C. gaskelliana (a bonus plant from an order a few months back) opened for me today. The colours are similar to C. warscewiczii, but it's a much smaller plant, and unlike my 'Caliman', I can only say nice things about the fragrance. Is it typical of C. warscewiczii that the fragrance is not entirely pleasant?

[smweaver]

Beautiful blooms on that one. And I'm envious because the flowers on my plant never have much of a fragrance. I will be interested to learn how long the flowers on your plant last. Mine remain in good shape for no longer than two weeks, at which point they tend to fade very quickly.

This has been, for me, one of the easier labiate cattleya species to grow. My plants tend to send out roots when (or shortly after) the new growths are initiated. So this would be a good time to repot and/or divide the plant.

I don't give my plants a rest after the new roots appear. This is the time of year when it's going to put on a lot of growth. So you want to encourage that by providing water and a little fertilizer. Can you place the plant outdoors in an area that gets morning sunshine and some protection from the sun for the rest of the day? This species also likes heat. So providing heat, a moderate amount of light (don't try to grow it like a schomburgkia or rhyncholaelia as far as light is concerned or you will cook it very quickly), and ample water during the summer growing season is, in my opinion, the key to succeeding with Cattleya warscewiczii.

Good luck. Your plant's flowers are quite stunning.

Steve

[Kim Brown]

Thank you so much for you kind words and details on your culture, Steve. I will be sure to tell you how long the flowers last. These last few weeks have been extremely hot and bone dry here in Denmark, and I expect the lifespan of my blooms is shortened by that. My C. Shipbuilder's Oatmeal Stout didn't even last two weeks!

Btw., if you consider a not entirely pleasant fragrance superior to barely any fragrance, then I'm sure you'd enjoy my plant. It's midway between fragrance and odour, like a no longer fresh bouquet of hyacinths.

[isurus79]

Looks good!!