BLC Tainan Gold - view from back of orchid

[Pindar]

Hello friends- Here is a view of that BLC Tainan Gold 'Canary' that I should have included. The view from the back shows the very pretty form of these blooms- which we do not usually notice. ALSO: it does show something about my Cattleyas... the lateral petals rarely open out flat. It may be because they mostly bloom in the cooler months and the lower temperatures affect the development: I have noticed that the later-blooming they are, the more they seem to open out. Still, this bell shape is also attractive, so I am not complaining.

[Magnus A]

How about humidity and the shape of the flower?
My experience from the former Sophronitis is that less humidity during flower development give less good flowers. "Defect" in the way you descibe.

I have also found that if the plant is held dry and not watered during the days the flower open I often get curved petals that do not form the usually flat surface.

/M

[catttan]

This is a trait of Tainan Gold. Mine behaves exactly in the same and the temps are in the lower 80's at night and in the 90's during daytime. But the high temps do result in smaller size flowers.

[Pindar]

Hi Magnus! Thank you for that- Good to hear from someone up North like me: we share similar challenges. Well now: humidity is never below 65% (usually at least 70%) though May-Sept it is not as steady as in the cooler months. However perhaps I am a bit too "CAREFUL" (mean) with my watering in the cooler months for fear of fungus, so it could be that the buds can safely fave more to drink. Hmm, a puzzle... see what Yew writes!
It is also odd that all my Encyclias open out as flat as you like- being related and in the same growing conditions. Except E vitellina which produces orange tubes instead of orange stars!!!
Thank you for letting me know I am not alone with this phenomenon!

How about humidity and the shape of the flower?
My experience from the former Sophronitis is that less humidity during flower development give less good flowers. "Defect" in the way you descibe.

I have also found that if the plant is held dry and not watered during the days the flower open I often get curved petals that do not form the usually flat surface.

/M

[Pindar]

This is a trait of Tainan Gold. Mine behaves exactly in the same and the temps are in the lower 80's at night and in the 90's during daytime. But the high temps do result in smaller size flowers.

Wow that is really interesting information! And to think that the cooler conditions actually improve their size... I have just learned something wonderful. Currently my temperatures are 20 by day, and down to 10 at night (68/70, down to 50). Here's something: my (gigantic!) Sanyung Ruby has the same trait, only even more. I shall post pictures soon.

[catttan]

Wow that is really interesting information! And to think that the cooler conditions actually improve their size... I have just learned something wonderful. Currently my temperatures are 20 by day, and down to 10 at night (68/70, down to 50). Here's something: my (gigantic!) Sanyung Ruby has the same trait, only even more. I shall post pictures soon.

The Taiwan 'floofies' like Sanyang Ruby, Chia Lin and Haw Yuan Gold are not really comfortable in our hot lowlands. They flower regularly but seldom if ever reach the size and brilliant colouring of those grown in cooler climes. This is dramatically illustrated when those grown in the lowlands are placed side by side with those grown in the Cameron Highlands (temp 60 - 75 F). But having said that the yellow with red lip types do extremely well in the hot, humid lowlands.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

How nice to see the back side of this cattleya orchid's blooms too and good discussion!

cheers,
BD

[Pindar]

Fascinating stuff. I am learning so much from you, man. Hmm: what are those Taiwanese breeders doing? They should be making hybrids that are more accessible to people in warmer/ drier/ centrally-heated places! Like the Australian breeders who are even making Oncidiinae hybrids we can all grow, like Burrageara, Colmanara, and other -aras. I think that is a big achievement. (I guess they had no choice but to tackle the issue seriously, since most of Australia is ONLY JUST above sea level!)

The Taiwan 'floofies' like Sanyang Ruby, Chia Lin and Haw Yuan Gold are not really comfortable in our hot lowlands. They flower regularly but seldom if ever reach the size and brilliant colouring of those grown in cooler climes. This is dramatically illustrated when those grown in the lowlands are placed side by side with those grown in the Cameron Highlands (temp 60 - 75 F). But having said that the yellow with red lip types do extremely well in the hot, humid lowlands.

[Magnus A]

Hi Magnus! Thank you for that- Good to hear from someone up North like me: we share similar challenges. Well now: humidity is never below 65% (usually at least 70%) though May-Sept it is not as steady as in the cooler months. However perhaps I am a bit too "CAREFUL" (mean) with my watering in the cooler months for fear of fungus, so it could be that the buds can safely fave more to drink. Hmm, a puzzle... see what Yew writes!
It is also odd that all my Encyclias open out as flat as you like- being related and in the same growing conditions. Except E vitellina which produces orange tubes instead of orange stars!!!
Thank you for letting me know I am not alone with this phenomenon!

Hi Igor
Yes we have it hard during the winters up in the north!
/M