How to find rare simple cattleya hybrids.
 

Hello All,

I have become increasing obsessed with some of the older cattleya hybrids. I am especially taken with the primary digbyana hybrids.

Where would be the best place to find these?

What has really caught my attention is photos of Rlc. Mrs. J Leeman. I once had the opportunity to buy one of these but I got cold feet as it was very expensive.

I guess if all else fails, I just purchased a cattleya dowiana and I already have the digbyana. I could always try to make my own.

Chadwick and Sons Orchids?

Does your orchid society include people who have been growing orchids for a really long time? You might meet someone who has classic orchid hybrids, and who would part with a division. Get to know people... you never know what you might find. And in the process, make some new friends. There are some great plants in collections, that will never make it to the internet.

Hi Brassavola Stars-
I have
Rlc Cordelia which is Rhyncholaelia digbyana X Catt intermedia (1906) Very durable and reliable cross, but prone to scale which i keep on top of. The place I got it no longer carries it. : -( sorry- but look for it, it's worthy.

Cattleya lawrenciana X mossiae is also a durable primary hybrid, but does not bloom as regularly for me as "Cordelia." (try H&R nurseries)

Lc Mini Purple - smallish and for me reliable and hardy. Should be available from many sources.

Crosses with Laelia anceps are a favorite of mine - so durable... try Santa Barabra Orchids

Good luck and happy growing
Maryanne in Massachusetts

I asked a breeder I know who does a lot of primaries if he had this one. He doesn't, but realized he has a bronze-bearded digbyana and a dowiana aurea with a beautiful big lip that would be perfect parents for a remake. That doesn't help you now, but....
-Keith

Those would be perfect! I wish I had a bronze digbyana. The last one I tried to buy at auction ended up going for over $700. I just bought a dowiana seedling but am still interested in getting a few other dowianas.

Was that just a few weeks ago, a plant auctioned by Steven Christofferson on eBay?
-Keith


Edit: I have about 65 C. dowiana aurea 4N x self seedlings.

Bingo!

I follow Steven’s eBay rather closely.

If I remember correctly, Waldor Orchids (along with some other significant Cattleya growers) might be an eBay auction competitor against me on Steven’s plants based on the last conversation I had with them at my orchid society.

Don’t quote me on this because I could be mistaken, but, I somewhat remember talking with David Off at Waldor Orchids about participating in high roller Cattleya eBay auctions and I believe Steven came up as someone with plants that are very desirable for breeding.

In short, I don’t stand a chance at one of these.

In addition to Chadwick, also consider Waldor Orchids, Silva Orchids and Keith Davis Orchids.

Lastly, my tenant (Kyle) has a large collection of Cattleyas, with emphasis on historical, coerulea & alba clones (primarily mother divisions). He doesn't sell commercially, but on occasion I sell some of his divisions.

Oops. Sorry about that, I won that plant. The faded flower Steven sold it with is still on the plant. Right now the only thing I have in flower to breed it with is a C. violacea 'Muse', and I don't think that would be a worthwhile hybrid.

If you have a plant you'd like to breed it with, I can send you the pollen if it is still intact.

-Keith