Purpuratas popping!

[Roberta]

Cattleya (Laelia) season is off to a great start! Here are a bunch of them. C purpurata f. schusteriana just opening (will post a better photo in a couple of days), C. purpurata f. russeliana, C. purpurata f. vinicolor, and C. (L) lobata f alba, a very close relative.

A better look at C. purpurata f. vinicolor. This plant is a beast - it started to outgrow its 10 inch clay pot so I dropped the whole thing into a plastic basket so I could hang it, Roots are now mostly in the space brtween the pot and basket, and the plant mostly outside. 4 spikes, all not yet open.

C purpurata f russelliana - I love the color

C. (L.)lobata is substantial but not as big as the purpurata with same number of growths, so better flower-to-plant ratio. Still one spike to open, a great show. (Closely related to purpurata, they bloom at the same time, so I show them together)

There has been a lot of discussion in another sub-forum on setup... this and my other Catt thread give some views of my "hanging" growing area.

[smweaver]

All of these are outstanding, although I'm definitely in love with that lobata. And I envy anyone who gets to grow outdoors all year. One of these days it might be an incentive to move. Congrats on the flowers. They really are putting on a wonderful show for you.

[SADE2020]

Woow amazing plants and I see they are under a great deal of ☀️ sun....

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by SADE2020

Woow amazing plants and I see they are under a great deal of ☀️ sun....

Thanks! I have 60% shadecloth over most of my yard. Those in the middle of the yard get strong sun (attenuated by the shade cloth) the entire day - so bright but not direct sun, 12-13 hours duration this time of year. When they were in bloom I had them in a brighter area (45% shade cloth) but the sun was not quite as intense as it is right now... "June gloom" which is mostly gone now.

[isurus79]

Beautiful!!

[Clawhammer]

Wow!! What a wonderful collection!

So many amazing purpurata color forms.. This is a plant I have had trouble blooming in my grow room. Love your setup!!

[Roberta]

I suspect that these need LOTS of light. Grow slowly but over time they can turn into beasts,

[estación seca]

Of the various Cattleya seedlings I have, Laelia purpurata and its primary hybrids take much more sun. They also use more water, and I fertilize them more. They grow faster and more vigorously.

[nemesis]

I think I am in love!!! Thank you for sharing!