Need advice on Cattleya

[uyenanh]

Friends,

I live in Houston, Texas, and I seek advice on what cattleya that will do well in hot climate. I am looking for a large white one with very pretty fragrance and a large deep purple one. Any suggestion? Thanks.

Uyen

jmo catts are sun and heat lovers for the most part and so should do well. what other conditions are you planning on providing? indoors, out, humidity, etc. it all plays into successful placement and growth of a new orchid. do you have others?

[uyenanh]

D.

Will it grow well indoor at a south-faced window? Shoud I let it has full sun? Or should I partially shade the sun with miniblind? Thanks. Uyen

[jerrymeola]

you will be able to grow cats easily in Housten. They will always grow well inside but may need higher levels of light to flower. Cattleyas flower best in 3500-4000 foot candles.

Measure the level of light with a camera. the instructions and conversion charts are at Measuring light levels with an SLR camera

If you do not have enough light you will have to add supplimental light.

In Housten you can easily grow the orchids ourside most of the year.

My best recommendations for a deep purple are Lc. Mini Purple, Blc Hawaiian Mini Island, and Blc. Aloha Case x Hunting Island.


this is a cross of L. pumila and C. walkeriana


This is a cross of Lc. Mini Purpla above with Blc. Hunting Island and has ruffled lip and septals and a little more red in the center than purple.

Blc. Aloha Case is Lc. Mini Island crossed back to its parent C. Walkeriana. This was crossed with Hunting Island and had an exciting sport that is a five inch flower. It looks exactly the same as Lc. Mini Purple but while Mini Purple is a 3 inch flower this one is 5 inches. It is now being cloned so will retain the five inch flower

All three are semi-minatures with leaves in the 6-8 inch range. They all have the ability to be continuous blooming orchids. I get mature plants to flower about every 8-10 weeks. Flowers last about 4-6 weeks each.

The scent is mild. I do not know any purples that have a strong smell.

The white you desire leaves you litteraly hundreds of choices. Most large whites are fragrant. Most new varieties have various amounts of different colors in the Lips. Pure whites have lost favor and you will have to search some.

An example of a newer white into which they breed a strking blue is Lc. Robert Strait 'Blue Hawaii'. I just looked for the photo and noticed I did not post it. I will add it later.

[uyenanh]

J.

Thank you very much for the info. Photos were a great help, at least I know what to expect. They are very beautiful.

My next dumb question is where. Where do I buy them? I stopped by 2 local orchid shops, but they didn't have what I am looking for. Would you please recommend a reputable online orchid supplier that might have them? Thanks again for your help. Uyen