Brassavola Hybrids
 

RJSquirrel posted pictures of his lovely Brassavola nodosa in another thread. So his pretty plant pictures got me to looking for similar plants to grow myself. I found an eBay vendor out of Hawaii selling these two plants. The vendor had compots for buy it now, they were very inexpensive, so I purchased them. Since pulling the trigger on this purchase, I have looked all over the Internet for culture requirements. There is a lot of information!

Brassolaeliocattleya (Blc) Mem. Vida Lee 'Limelight'. These pictures and plants come from peandshel/eBay vendor.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3852/...101ca7cc_b.jpg
BrassavolaLaeliaCattleya by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

Brassocattleya (Bc) (Little Stars x Maikai) 'Hawaii'

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3887/...fa68100e_b.jpg
BrassavolaCattleya by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

Great find! I like them both. According to OrchidWiz, Little Stars x Maikai is registered as Bc. Island Stars.

Thanks silken. Do you grow either of these plants?

No. But I have a large Bc. Maikai and Bc. Nakornpathome Silver, which is B. nodosa x Bc. Binosa (nodosa x bicolor). The Bc. Nakornpathome Silver hasn't bloomed for me yet. I bought it as a seedling several years ago. I keep getting sheaths but nothing more on that one.

Typical catt culture...bright light (2500-3500 fcs would be perfect)...let dry out between waterings.

I didn't grow the Maikai hybrid but I did grow Maikai and that one and Lime Light were easy growers and reliable bloomers.

Brassavola Hybrids
 

Do the bloom size for these two orchids get very large? I am hoping they stay compact, otherwise I'm going to have to build a greenhouse! I figured these would take the traditional Cattleya bright light. Thanks Katrina.

Just got a confirmation that these two plants has shipped from Hilo, HI. The note came from Carmela Orchids? I have not bought any plants from Carmela--I have heard of them. This will be my first.

You'll be pleased with the Carmela plants.
Joann

The maikai was a good one for under lights...I think it topped out at around 7" or 8" leaves and it would bloom in a 4" pot. It grew like a weed and I would divide when it was overflowing an 8" pot. So, not miniature but definitely on the more compact side. Oh, and when I would divide...it would never skip a beat...bloomed right on schedule. When it was filling an 8" pot it would put out a smaller flush of blooms in the summer but the big flush was always Dec/Jan.

It's been longer since I grew the LL but if my memory serves me it was a taller plant and rather than growing "around" in the pot...it walked across the pot. At least that's what I'm remembering. Not as neat and tidy as the Maikai/Maikai hybrids. I'm thinking more along the lines of 12" tall leaves. Maybe?

They are both lovely, but that second one is my favorite!

Both are beautiful. Is either one or both fragrant? Thanks, BettyE.

Hello BettyE, yes, according to the vendor and other folks on this OrchidBoard, these are both fragrant. I can't wait for these plants to arrive and I can start them growing in my environment. If all survive my re-potting, I'm going to have to find good homes for most of these seedlings before the cold weather sets in.

Brassavola Hybrids
 

The plants arrived from Carmella Orchids, Hilo, Hawaii. They were packed well but unfortunately, one of the pots broke in transit. This was a compot that I was going to wait to re-pot later but with it in pieces, I'll have to get them in pots tonight.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3844/...68ae7e60_b.jpg
Blc Mem. Vida Lee 'Limelight' by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

The traveling companion did well and arrived in tact. I'll keep it as is, and re-pot later, after it has acclimated to Fort Wayne.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3889/...7c41dc1d_b.jpg
Bc (Little Stars x Maikai) 'Hawaii' by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

At least the plants look OK so that is good.

You're going to love them Matt! I've discovered that one of mine is Little Stars x Maikai. It grows like a weed. It's picture is below and is 20+ years old. Mine blooms here in Florida in February/March and can tolerate temps down in the high 40's.

Oddly enough, mine is throwing sheaths now. It's never done that before that I'm aware of. It's planted in a hanging basket....and as you can see, the basket is buried.

I really like the other one you bought too. The lime green is beautiful against the pink/red.

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...m/DSC00308.JPG

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5586/...287f084e_b.jpg
Blc Mem. Vida Lee 'Limelight' by MattWoelfsen, on Flickr

Newly potted seedlings. They arrived in chunks and now they are in small pots. Good life to you little plants!

Brassavola Hybrids
 

Whoa HighSeas! Thanks for sharing your beautiful plant!

They look good...I'm sure they'll do well for you! BettyE.

Thank you BettyE and silken and HighSeas. These little guys spent the night inside and they will spend today inside. It got down to 51*F overnight. I figured, repotting them at night, getting every thing wet will not be good for these seedlings. These are very healthy seedlings. I'm impressed with these plants and the vendor from whom these were issued.

Carmela remains one of The Best!

Almost two months later, these two compots of seedlings are all individually potted. They are growing well. It really helps to start with strong plants.

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...ef0d50c96a.jpg

Both really gorgeous!

Thanks Tommy. What is hard to see on this picture are the roots, they are all very big and healthy. When the sun rises, I'll see if I can get a picture.

Those are gorgeous! Brassavola hybrids are my favorites! I will have to find a source for them


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SJF, I'm actually looking for homes for these seedlings. My Orchid Society is meeting this Sunday. It is our annual "Sell Your Excess Orchid" Fundraiser for our society. If you are interested in getting any of these seedlings presented here, please PM me.

Be aware that these are just out of the compot. Flowering will probably take 2-3 years from now--depending on your grow conditions. I think they grow faster and come to flower size given the right warmth, moisture, and light.

Matt, I just sent you a pm, but my kindle seems to be clutching. Please let me know if you received it

These seedlings are doing so well! The brassavola hybrids have one of the most appealing shapes...at least to me. I can't believe I only have two brassavola/hybrids...B. nodosa and Bc. Maikai 'Louise'. These two look to be gorgeous and your society members are lucky!

Jean's

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...a5c0307591.jpg

SJF's

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...f340ffbad7.jpg

In both sets of plants, what I am most impressed with are the roots--very strong and fat! I have watered these with rain water. I did give them a good soaking of fish emulsion two weeks ago, last weekend I gave them KelpMax from FirstRays. I do not know if you can tell, but the leaves have slightly reddish borders. I put them in different pots so that I can tell the difference. But the plants have differentiated themselves: the (Little Stars x Maikai) 'Hawaii' is twice as large as the Mem. Vida Lee 'Limelight'

Carmela's are great!

Looks great Matt. Please let me know how much the shipping is


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Definetly!

Hmm. I am wondering if I can import orchids from
Hawaii affordably. I figure I am as far from Hawaii as you are. Maybe closer!


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It is worth checking into. The Hawaiian vendors I deal with are Kawamoto Orchids, MidPacific Orchids, Tropical Orchid Farms, and Carmella Orchids.