Cattleya jenmanii

[Vivienne]

I picked up a Cattleya jenmanii at our orchid society meeting this past weekend. It's a wee little thing - 7 pbulbs in a 2.5" pot. I've googled it and read that it was a dwarf cattleya.
Does anyone have experience with this orchid?
How dwarf is dwarf?
Will a 4" wood-slat basket be a good home?
How big does it grow before it blooms?

Thanks!

(sorry - yucky cell phone pic)

[made4engineering]

This one is on my wish list... From what I have researched.. it gets almost a foot high. It's dwarf... for a Lindley type Cat.

[Vivienne]

hmmm... don't think a 4" basket sounds like the right size then.

[exasperatus2002]

Originally Posted by Vivienne

hmmm... don't think a 4" basket sounds like the right size then.

It will be for a short while.

[Vivienne]

LOL - true - anyone know how long?

[Orchidflowerchild]

Generally it'll blook with growths around 7-8", but get to be about 10-12" tall. A 4" basket is *way* too big for the plany you have, now. You're about 5-6 years from blooming with that wee seedling.

-Cj

[articuno75]

Look at that tiny little thing! It's soo cute. Carefully watering it, you'll drown it, LoL.. Blink and you might miss it too.

[Vivienne]

LOL - I can't miss it... it's hanging in my shower under the skylight. Ended up just putting the little pot inside the 4" basket.

[jerrymeola]

Your plant should not have 7 pbulbs on that small a plant. I bet you will find that it is several plants in the pot.

If it had been a miniature (under 5 inches as opposed to semi miniature up to 10 inches) I would have strongly recommended against a basket. I find it very difficult to keep the roots of miniatures moist enough to supply the plant unless watering is very consistent. A short period of low water can wreck a true miniature.

This photo was over 4 inch flowers.