Cattleya leopoldii

[Rosim_in_BR]

Cattleya leopoldii is a well-known bifoliate Cattleya with spotted, waxy flowers. Here are two representative of the type.
The third photo compares the variety lisa 'Arara' I showed a few days earlier to one of the tipos.

[smweaver]

The type variety of this species is still my favorite, Mauro (although I really have never seen an "ugly" C. leopoldii). How many plants of this species do you grow?

Steve

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by smweaver

The type variety of this species is still my favorite, Mauro (although I really have never seen an "ugly" C. leopoldii). How many plants of this species do you grow?

Steve

I don't know the exact number, Steve, but the last time I did a quick account it was something between 50 and 60 leopoldiis!

[smweaver]

While that number of C. leopoldii plants would completely stress me out when it came time to repot them, Mauro, I would think that your growing area has to smell fantastic right now. I have several leopoldiis also, yet only one of them was mature enough to flower over the summer. But that one flowering plant produced a lot of fragrance on my front porch, and everyone who came to visit had to make a routine stop and put their nose into the group of blooms. Do you grow C. guttata also, or do you primarily have C. leopoldii plants? I've read that guttata likes warmer temperatures over the winter than leopoldii. Has that been your experience, or do both species appear to tolerate (prefer?) the same conditions?

Steve

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by smweaver

While that number of C. leopoldii plants would completely stress me out when it came time to repot them, Mauro, I would think that your growing area has to smell fantastic right now. I have several leopoldiis also, yet only one of them was mature enough to flower over the summer. But that one flowering plant produced a lot of fragrance on my front porch, and everyone who came to visit had to make a routine stop and put their nose into the group of blooms. Do you grow C. guttata also, or do you primarily have C. leopoldii plants? I've read that guttata likes warmer temperatures over the winter than leopoldii. Has that been your experience, or do both species appear to tolerate (prefer?) the same conditions?

Steve

Oh, yes, my leopoldarium smells fantastic by now! These are strong fragrant flowers, so you can figure out ten or twelve plants with the flowers open at the same time!
That's interesting you ask about guttata because I have only three plants of this species, one mature caerulea that must be flowering in a few weeks (well, at least I was promised it was caerulea!!!) and two almost mature seedlings, also crosses of caeruleas varieties. They both grow well in intermediate temps, but leopoldiis like fresher to cooler temps in the winter while guttatas prefer (but it is not mandatory) warmer temps in the winter.

[RosieC]

I've liked the leopoldii type for a while now, but it's so great to see a range of your varieties of it across the threads you've posted.

That's the great thing about seeing pics of your flowers, because you grow so many you can show us the comparison. It's really interesting to see.