Cattleya purpurata v. striata x purpurata (v. sanguinea x rubra)
 

In a fit of winter doldrums I placed an Etsy order, and got this. Doing a google search later, I can find nothing on it except the seller's listing, and he is no longer on Etsy. It looks pretty good, considering it shipped w/o the heat pack. Any guesses how big it will get? I am following just general Cattleya culture. Does anyone have any more info about it? It is in a 5.5" pot (Has I think sunburn spots on one leaf...they look crimson close up.)

(Was going to post a photo but not sure how so I think I did an attachment.....)

Cattleya purpurata gets tall. Each mature growth could be 18" / 46cm tall.

Looks very good. And they're tough... mine live outside, get rained on, and winter nights into the low 40's F and occasionally lower. (Southern California...yours of course will be inside for the winter!) They can get big. Some of my C. purpuratas have growths (pseudobulb + leaf) of 24 inches or perhaps a bit more. And spectacular. For me, typically bloom June-ish, into July.

Thanks...that is about what I was guessing, but the leaf size seems small. I also got a Catt. Amazing Thailand Rainbow, and although that is in a smaller pot, and is smaller overall, the leaf size is bigger. So just a bit confused. Re: purpurata, as this cross is not a "named" one, does that mean it is not as nice as a named variety?

C purpurata is a species with lots of varieties (actually, color forms) All of the color forms in the mix are gorgeous - expect deep color, possibly with some striations. Even with the "mixing" it is still the species. It isn't a clone (which one with a cultivar name likely would be) but that means nothing. Some individuals within each form may have special desirable characteristics, impossible to know what individuals were used. I have never met a purpurata that I didn't love. :biggrin: Some individuals may be smaller than others, and it is possible to breed for more compact habit. (Hint: that would be lovely...) It looks like a nice husky plant. It could bloom in a year or so, but will just get better the bigger it gets.

Watch for new roots, and repot, give it a bit more room (but don't overdo it) Or just do what Santa Barbara Orchid Estate does, drop the whole thing into a bigger pot, with no medium - roots seem to fine extra moisture in the space between inner and outer pots. (I put mine in baskets and hang them in the back yard, roots grow very long in the air... probably not the best option for you... pick a strategy that will keep the roots under a bit of control while letting them run free and get lots of air)

Thanks so much Roberta! I did love the blossom photo on the listing. Right now I'm letting it just get acclimated, it has been thru a lot. I gave it a dose of Kelpak solution. But will wait for signs of growth before I try a repot. It does show one new growth starting, but no roots. Knowing how big it might get and how fast it might grow is a help in judging the next pot size. I just wasn't sure as the leaves were so much smaller than the smaller plant of ATR. So many online descriptions are of the bloom, but not the plants....
I confess I also bought 14 plugs of various Oncidiium alliance plants...seems to be lots more info on those, so will be fun to watch them grow. But the ultimate size of the plants will be an issue where they will be placed. I may have to take over another room!
(I figure DH will figure it out when the house begins to look more like a jungle....)

For some eye candy, take a look at the L. purpurata page on my website. Just a few color forms, plants that I manage to grow in my back yard. Most pretty ordinary, grown under less-than-ideal conditions. (Yeah, I still call them "Laelia", not about to change all my tags) In Brazil, there are shows devoted to specific individual color forms. C. (L) purpurata has been elevated to a high art there.

Your orchids are just AMAZING!
FWIW mine might look like this....again, attached?

Oh yeah! Based on the parentage, very likely to look like that - intense color. So, wishing you good growing!

Thanks again!