Cattleya amethystoglossa

[tucker85]

I've had this orchid for three years. It finally bloomed this year after the pseudobulbs got to be 15" tall. I didn't realize how big these need to get before they bloom.

[Dorsetman]

Oh my word Jeff, you have made me turn green with envy. What a beauty.
I did know they were big ; there was once a dealer in UK who set out to fill a gap in the market by specialising in Catt species . I used to visit him occasionally and buy a few things - he used to visit someone in the States to get flasks, and then raise them. He had an amethystoglossa which I saw and loved , and yes, it was very tall. ( two feet as my memory of events 30 years ago runs ) I have not so far done well with plants which I have bought, of this species , and recently tried a couple of small plants ( meristems of the clone "Pink Powder Puff" )- bulbs only 4 or 5 inches tall, which I have put on branches. They are rooting well , but maybe when they are full size this will be difficult to handle because of the weight and size - how to keep the plant the right way up when it is the branch which is suspended , hanging from the line extending along my greenhouse. A nice problem if I ever get that far ! In the meantime I am reinforced in my efforts by the pleasure of seeing your lovely plant.

[Dorsetman]

P.s I think you are growing in Hydroleca ( or some other name - in Germany- translated- they export them to me as "baked clay pellets"). That is what I am using for my bench grown cattleyas - with the plants standing in water. How are you growing, may I ask ?

[tucker85]

P.s I think you are growing in Hydroleca ( or some other name - in Germany- translated- they export them to me as "baked clay pellets"). That is what I am using for my bench grown cattleyas - with the plants standing in water. How are you growing, may I ask ?

Geoff, I grow my orchids outdoors in South Florida. The weather is hot and humid. During the summer we get tropical rains every afternoon for weeks. Using any organic medium can be a recipe for disaster down here. So everyone I know grows in some kind of rock. It can be Hydroton (this plant is in Hydroton), lava rock, hydroponics growstones, Sta-lite and there are many more. Mounted orchids and open baskets work well here also. During the winter when it doesn't rain much, I need to water a couple of times a week since my medium doesn't hold any moisture and it's still 80 degrees most days. The other advantage to using a rock medium is that plants can be grown to a large size without worrying about the medium breaking down. I'm sure growing here is much different than growing in your environment. By the way I have the same name but the American spelling. Jeff

[cdayinflorida]

Superb, Jeff!

[stateless]

you are so lucky that is beautiful

[smurphr]

awesome, jeff! and thank both you jeff/geoff's for that little back and forth... jeff and i are pretty much longitudinal twins, all except our winters are wet, which are then followed by the spring "plum" rains, which transitions nicely onto typhoon season... and that pretty much brings us right back to winter! i've been using osmunda fiber: boards, chunks and shreds for almost everything... it's pretty good about not breaking down too fast, but i just recently (last weekend) bought a couple bags of the clay balls... tryin out working it into some of my plants... glad to hear it works so well for you, jeff!

[chrisa]

Absolutely stunning. Love it!

[zainal abidin]

Lovely..... good photographs Jeff

[Anteater]

That is a gorgeous orchid!