Curious about Catttleya splash petals
 

I have limited space, but one orchid on my list is a cattleya splash. I love the bright beautiful colors, they really catch my eye. On line and in books, that is. I haven't seen one in person. It is so hard to decide which one to order since I have to buy it online. No orchid nurseries around here. And I hate to wait, so I prefer to buy a blooming size or, better, one in spike, which makes it more expensive and a harder decision.

So I'm curious who has splash orchids and are there any that are more prolific than others, easier to grow with big gorgeous flowers. I bought a book "Bloom-Again Orchids" by "Judy White" and it has made me so impatient to find a splash.

Check out Carter & Holmes and Sunset Valley Orchids.

Even if they don't have them on their websites, a phone call might find exactly what you're after.

If you want one that is blooming size and for certain a splash petal, call the vendor and tell them you wish for one that is blooming size and explain what you want.

Look through Hausermann's site. I think I saw some there. Do call before buying as they sometimes don't mention that the orchid will be a few years from blooming.

Splash petal Catts are no different than non-splash Catts in range of sizes, base colors, breeding, vigor, conditions, etc. You can get splash and non-splash from the same pod of seedlings. It is a small genetic difference, like a human family where some may have a gap between the front teeth and some don't. The flowers tend to be somewhat cupped, not quite as flat and fully open as an otherwise genetically similar non-splash, from a structural difference that goes along with the splash.

There are hundreds of crosses and cultivars, so making a specific recommendation doesn't necessarily mean you will be able to find the same one for sale. The 3 sellers I would have recommended first have already been mentioned. Call or email them, tell them what you want, and go with their suggestion within your price range.

I didn't mention Exotic Orchids of Maui even though I think I read that, with some of the seedlings, they are hoping for splash petals for the very reason that PaphMadMan mentioned...they sell seedlings of crosses that are a few years from blooming and it is very uncertain what the results will be of each individual seedling. I love to buy a few for fun and as long as the orchids open and look cute (to me), I do not care too much but if there is something specific you wish, it is better to go with a bloomed seedling or a clone so you know exactly what you are getting.

To be certain that you get a splash, you have to buy either a meristem, or a 'mother division' (big $).

While some of the smaller spash flowers can be a bit 'cuppy', most of the standard (full size) open fully.

While there are high minimums, also look at Carmela and H&R.

I second Leafmite's suggestion regarding Hausermann. They have a number of splash petal mericlones. Not as expensive as some, and well-grown plants. I have bought from them myself, and was never disappointed. They are always blooming size when they are in a 6" pot. Some times 4" in the case of minis.

SVO like Ray said has some splashes, and most of their stuff (not all) is mini. They sell blooming plants on eBay sometimes, so you can see what you're getting.