Cattleya walkeriana in bloom

[glengary54]

When I got rid of my Cattleya collection, there were a few species that managed to convince me to let them stay, one was C walkeriana with it's wonderfully heady perfume.

[tucker85]

Very pretty! I agree with you, I have a purple and a white walderiana and I love the fragrance. Good growing.

[Bud]

The color just strikes you. It is a beautiful flower, and fragrant at that !

[glengary54]

Bud - I don't know how familiar you are with C walkeriana, it doesn't bloom out of the top of the psuedobulb like other Cattleyas, it sends out what looks like a new thinner growth and flowers from that, very interesting growth habit. I will try to post a picture of it's growth habit tomorrow for you.

[Bud]

gee, Thanks Glen

[glengary54]

Bud - decided to go get the plant and post the picture tonight so as not to keep you in suspense. It's the growth that goes from the bottom left across to the right, you can just make the spike coming out of the sheath.

[Gage]

Originally Posted by glengary54

Bud - decided to go get the plant and post the picture tonight so as not to keep you in suspense. It's the growth that goes from the bottom left across to the right, you can just make the spike coming out of the sheath.

Glen, does the blooming growth have a leaf, it's hard to tell from the pic. And does that growth have a pseudobulb? Does it die back like a spike? You have me so curious.

[glengary54]

Gage, no it does not develop a leaf, the growth stays small and skinny, it never fully develops into what one would think of as a true psuedobulb but it is more than just a spike and doesn't die after flowering, it remains just like a very small skinny psuedobulb. Here is a link to a great close up of a spike growth, the spike will come out of this growth and the growth will gain just a little more bulk:
Cattleya walkeriana image by radiumgarden on Photobucket

[Bud]

That is very interesting ! It gives the flower breathing space unlike the other catts who crowd the pot with bulbs and flower in the middle of the leaf...

[smweaver]

That's a fantastic flower, Glen. Do you give your plant a winter rest, or do you try to maintain growing conditions throughout the year? Congratulations on the bloom. It really is lovely.

Steve