Cattleya Portia Maybe - mystery solved - now to cultivate!

[mauraec]

There are numerous photos on the web showing the vegetative growth, specifically the sheaths and pseudobulbs. From what I've seen so far, I'd guess your plant will have 2 or 3 flowers per inflorescence. The two "Ps", as a result of their bowringiana parent, will carry 6-14 flowers.

I have read, and seen, all sorts of variations of the C. Portia and the C. Porcia. Not claiming to be any sort of expert on orchids, and on cattleyas, specifically, I am content to simply try to restore this plant, whatever its identity, to some of its former dignity and beauty. I am grateful to everyone who has spent time helping me with their enthusiasm and experience in this journey, and am thrilled to have so many of you along for the ride. Helpful new suggestions are always particularly welcome, and please check back for pictorial updates. I took the following this afternoon to try to show some of the proportions. The tallest inflorescence - however many blooms it has - is almost 15". The inflorescence closest to blooming is swelling noticeably everyday, and looks as though it has a tip with 4 or 5 buds at the top, turning lightly bluish-purple as the days go by. Don't forget that this plant has had very little care for years now - less than adequate water, and fertilizer, and more than necessary light.

Anyway, it's coming along, I think, considering the number of insect inhabitants, root rot, and just plain exhaustion:






Thanks for the observations -

Maura

[Michael Saar]

Looking forward to the flowers.

[angela]

Does yours look at all like this one? One of the spikes is 14" tall now, and the plant itself is about 15". Some of the members doubt it's really a C. Portia because it's not tall enough and the spikes don't look right to them. This plant had NO ROOTs below the surface - all the roots grew up and around the pseudobulbs, trying to catch some water, I guess. Whatever it is, I think it's going to make it, and it looks like at least one spike is going to bloom. I still haven't seen a photo of a C. Portia in spike, or in bloom, so I have no idea ....

Hi Maura,
I went into the garden in search of a Catt. Portia pic for you. The attached is the best I could come up with. The heavy rains following passage of Hurricane Maria yesterday has everything beaten down.
Hope you can still get some idea of what the flower looks like.
I now have some doubts and question about my plant. Since your Post I have looked at pics. of Catt. Portia on the Internet and those that I have seen are quite pale in color compared to mine. Also you and others give it a very long spike. My spikes are 7"-8" and can have from 7-10 flowers. the flowers are about 2 1/2- 3" across.
I have had this plant for a very long time and this is the tag that it came with. When in bloom it is beautiful, but as I have said before , some say it is fragrant, I am not fussy about its smell.
I would like someone (perhaps Yew, if he is familiar with Catt. Portia) to comment on the differences that I have pointed out.
Cheers
Angela

[mauraec]

Angela - You are such a sweetheart to do that! I have to run, but I'll send you a longer post later tonight. Whatever your catt is, it's just beautiful!

Maura

[kiwiorchids]

Hi Maura,
I went into the garden in search of a Catt. Portia pic for you. The attached is the best I could come up with. The heavy rains following passage of Hurricane Maria yesterday has everything beaten down.
Hope you can still get some idea of what the flower looks like.
I now have some doubts and question about my plant. Since your Post I have looked at pics. of Catt. Portia on the Internet and those that I have seen are quite pale in color compared to mine. Also you and others give it a very long spike. My spikes are 7"-8" and can have from 7-10 flowers. the flowers are about 2 1/2- 3" across.
I have had this plant for a very long time and this is the tag that it came with. When in bloom it is beautiful, but as I have said before , some say it is fragrant, I am not fussy about its smell.
I would like someone (perhaps Yew, if he is familiar with Catt. Portia) to comment on the differences that I have pointed out.
Cheers
Angela

my portia has about 6-7 blooms per spike-without fertilizer Do you fertilize yours? it looks about right....

[paphioboy]

My 2 cents: Doesn't look like portia. Spike habit looks like it has a big dose of laelia anceps in the parentage, but I may be wrong. Wait until it flowers.

[angela]

@ Kiwiorchids
Because this plant is so unruly I have it in a rather large pot in an obscure point just outside the shade house where it gets ample sun. It gets watered when everyone else gets watered and fertilised. IOW I do not give her any special treatment. Because I do not much like the fragrance of this one I don't care to pamper her!!!! But the blooms are beautiful.

[Michael Saar]

Will we see flowers before your vacation????

[mauraec]

Will we see flowers before your vacation????

I imagine it depends on whether the little buggers ever actually bloom - and they are taking their own sweet time. Of course, it also depends on whether my orchid-sitter keeps them going. The spikes are getting taller and taller, with very little headway on the buds - a couple have blasted, but there are 4 potential spikes left. I'll snap a photo and include it for you to evaluate.

By the way, there has been some confusion over whether my most recent catt - Mahina Yahiro 'Ulii' (a Blc., but you'll know if it's changed) - has an AM/AOS or got all the way to an FCC. My Orchidwiz still hasn't come - could you look it up for me? And have you had any more thoughts on how to go about iding the Od. Taylor Barfield mutant with no spots? The original nursery hasn't been reachable.

[Halloamey]

Angela, these don't look very much like Portia either LOL, the lip looks too open and floofy also I have never seen the yellow on the lips.

Hi Maura,
I went into the garden in search of a Catt. Portia pic for you. The attached is the best I could come up with. The heavy rains following passage of Hurricane Maria yesterday has everything beaten down.
Hope you can still get some idea of what the flower looks like.
I now have some doubts and question about my plant. Since your Post I have looked at pics. of Catt. Portia on the Internet and those that I have seen are quite pale in color compared to mine. Also you and others give it a very long spike. My spikes are 7"-8" and can have from 7-10 flowers. the flowers are about 2 1/2- 3" across.
I have had this plant for a very long time and this is the tag that it came with. When in bloom it is beautiful, but as I have said before , some say it is fragrant, I am not fussy about its smell.
I would like someone (perhaps Yew, if he is familiar with Catt. Portia) to comment on the differences that I have pointed out.
Cheers
Angela