Sc Beaufort

[Nancy]

I just bought another minicat with the above name. I know that this is a primary hybrid. Is it easy to grow? It has a new growth that is almost completed, so hopefully I will be able to see what color it is. If anyone else is growing this hybrid, I'd love to see some pictures. Thanks everyone.

[Tobi]

The link is in Japanese, but there is a pic of the bloom

Sophrocattleya Beaufort

[Nancy]

What a pretty little minicat. The only clone I've seen is 'Elisabeth', which is orange with a very tubular lip. I'm hoping for a yellow flowere. Thanks so much for the pictures.

[Orchidflowerchild]

C. luteola and Soph. coccinea are the parents of this one, if I remember correctly, and it is an easy grower due to the Cattleya parent. C. luteola will grow happily in a huge range of conditions, from cool to hot and from vanda light to Phal light. If your particular plant has a lot of dominance from the Sophronitis parent, it may prefer temps a bit on the cooler side, but in general, intermediate temps (60-80-ish) will suit it well. As for light, both parents are quite happy between 800 and 1500 Fc but will bloom better with 1800-2000 Fc. so you can generally grow it in light suitable for Phals up through Catt light.

It's a good cross, and should be a very rewarding plant! Enjoy!

-Cj

[Nancy]

I'm really keeping myfingers crossed that it will bloom on this growth.It could be any color between yellow and red. I know it's a parent to a lot of crosses but it's hard to find pictures of just this parent. I'd love to see a few awarded clones. Any idea where I might find them?

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

This is a pretty famous cross, and I recall one speaker who was a miniature Catt specialist say this was hard to grow because it favored the Sophronitis for temperature. So you may want to think about the temperature of your growing area. Also, both luteola and coccinea are low light plants, so I would guess you should not give it Catt light. Well, this is what I have from hear say. Haven't grown Beaufort, but killed a hybrid with it. Now the plant probably expired from the unrecognized, at the time, fusarium infection going round my GH. But it may have been susceptible because of the stress of being a little too warm. Good luck with this plant.

[Nancy]

From the little bit of information I've been able to read up on it, it does seem to prefer temperatures that favor the Sopronitis. I have it in a cool place now but I do have it where it is receiving quite a bit of light. They new growth was solid green when I got it but now the coming leaf has taken on a light pink tinge. I'm definately going to keep an eye on it. Thanks for the help.

[Brooke]

Nancy I've had this cultivar for several years - first in a bark mix under lights and now on a tree fern mount. I moved it to the cool end of the greenhouse and give it catt light and it has done exceptional under those conditions. I have a picture of it but can't find the instructions for posting and I wasn't successful trying to bumble through by myself.

Brooke

[Nancy]

I would love to see it. I'm just going to move it around until it seems happy. At least I didn't have to worry about it getting too much light today, it's been doing nothing but rain all day. Thanks for encouragement.

[kmarch]

It's always a good idea to research the needs of a particular orchid before buying it so that you don't end up with a plant for which you can't provide the proper conditions. It'll also save you money (not buying plants that will die in your care) and frustration (in havign to try to change your cinditions or loosing favored plants).

[Nancy]

Of course that makes perfect sense. I just wanted a yellow minicat and was told that this would probably bloom yellow. The rest of my catts seemto be doing well and this oneis too, so far. I love challenges. I love to coax them and talk to them. I ask questions because it helps to have all the opinions I can get. I'll give you all updates on how it's doing. Thanks for the tips.

[Brooke]

Testing for a picture of Sc. Beaufort - hope this works and it's not too big.

Brooke

OK, appears to work and not too big. This is the orangey/reddish one. It did great under lights but is ripping in the greenhouse in high light, cool end of the g/h.

[Nancy]

Brooke, that is so pretty. What do you do with it when temperatures start to warm up? Now the temperature is about as good as it can get. I don't know where you're located. Can you include this in your next post? I say a plant that has special needs just takes a little more planning. It's great to have found someone who actually grows the plant. Now we can compare notes.

[Brooke]

Nancy I live in Lexington KY. I don't know if this plant needs special care because it used to spend summers outside in morning sun, then the winter under regular fluoros. I did move it to the cooler end of the G/H this year just because of the Soph. influence and I had more room in the cool end. It could be it loves being mounted on tree fern instead of a plastic pot in big bark. I don't know but it is a nice little plant and blooms multiple times a year. What more could you ask for in the little plant?

Good luck with yours - Brooke

[kmarch]

Brooke,

What are the night time winter low temps in Kentucky? I suspect there are lots of orchids you could grow outside year round there.

[Orchidflowerchild]

Kevin: KY gets all four seasons, usually. Blistering summers and snowy winters.

Gotta be down pretty far south in florida or far south texas to grow a lot of orchids outdoors all year. Even Southern Louisianna gets hard freezes several times a winter. I even get snow here once in a while.

-Cj

[Brooke]

Cj is correct about the four seasons here in KY except for the snowy winters. We do get snow but it usually doesn't last very long because our winter temps yo yo so much. There are exceptions to this when we get old fashioned blizzards but our worst winter damage comes in the form of ice storms. Winter temps can get as low as -10f but usually only for a night or two. Outside gardens are usually damaged more by the freeze/thaw they experience. Below zero one night but in the 40's or 50's a couple of days later.

Cyps are the only orchid suitable for outdoor growth and not even all of them. Cyps are also difficult because our soil is clay can get very saturated and when dry, think clay pot.

Brooke

[Nancy]

Brooke, not to interrupt the new subject that has sort of interjected it self into this thread, but can I ask one more question concernig my SC Beaufort? The new leaf is turning a slight bronzy color. Is this an indication of good light for the plant? Baltimore's temperatures stand at 50 degree days and 30 degree night respctively.

[Brooke]

Nancy I don't really know. I checked my Beaufort today and some of the older leaves do have a purplish tinge on the bottom of them, newer ones are more green and the older pbulbs have a purplish tinge to them. I don't take purplish color to be any deficiency so I guess you will just have to give it the best light you have and see if it blooms.

Brooke

[Orchidflowerchild]

A little bronzing is no big deal. It's like a suntan. A plant with a little pink will bloom better than one that is all lush and green.

-Cj

[Nancy]

The new growth is growing steadily so I think it's doing okay. I'm keeping myfingers crossed that it will bloom on this growth. thank you for your patience. I guess I worry too much. I'll keep you both updated.

[Nancy]

There is something coming up throught the leaf. It's green and flat. It sort of looks like an envelope. Could this be a sheath? It is growing very fast. Do sheaths start out green and then turn white? I am so excited!!! I'll continue to keep you posted.

[tom499]

That sounds very much like a sheaf

[PhalPal]

I am just getting into the world of mini-catts so I'm going to put myself in this thread to keep getting updates. I especially love anything in the orange/yellow range. I can't wait to see yours bloom Nancy!