Help with Orchid Identification!

[Spirytman]

Hi everyone. I just received these orchids from a person looking to unload. They just couldn't take care of them any longer. It looks as though some of them have been sunburned. The only thing i know about them is that they all came from one plant and she divided them. Any ideas as to what I'm dealing with?

[78Terp]

Looks like a cattleya family type. Without flowers that is probably as close as we'll get for ID.

[Spirytman]

That's what I was thinking but since I've never had cattleyas, I wasn't sure.
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[PaphMadMan]

Definitely a Cattleya alliance hybrid. And judging from the somewhat sprawling growth habit it is likely of the type that used to be called Slc. or Potinara - so red-orange-warm colors somewhat more likely than cool lavenders or whites - but that is far from certain.

Yes, that is sunburn, but up until they got burned these plants probably weren't getting quite enough light. All blooming-size plants and not in bad health overall so with a year of good care you could have a lot of flowers.

[Spirytman]

Thanks PMM! I'm amazed that you can tell that from the pictures! I look forward to being able to identify the plants that fast. Can you tell me more about why you believe that they will be Red/Orange? I find that fascinating!

[cucubirds]

Agree with PaphMadMan & 78Terp. A cattleya hybrid. Though no exact ID since there is no flower picture.

Cattleya like plenty of light. They like to dry out between each watering. Your media looks old & may retain too much water. Watch out for it. If it takes too long to dry out, I'd suggest you to change potting media.

And you suddenly expose them to strong sunlight causing sunburns on them. You can gradually expose them to directly sunlight. Ideally , the leave should be olive green to bloom for you. but avoid, afternoon harsh sunlight between 1-4 pm or keep them under shade netting if harsh sunlight is unavoidable.

otherwise, your plants look healthy.

Goodluck

[PaphMadMan]

Thanks PMM! I'm amazed that you can tell that from the pictures! I look forward to being able to identify the plants that fast. Can you tell me more about why you believe that they will be Red/Orange? I find that fascinating!

In my experience, the growth habit of your plants is typical of Cattleya hybrids that include the species Cattleya (formerly Sophronitis) coccinea among their ancestors - the types that were called Slc. or Potinara back in the 20th century (and still in some people's minds). That type of hybrid tends toward a certain color range from the typically bright red/orange C. coccinea which tended to be selected and maintained even generations later because that was the whole purpose of using C. coccinea in breeding despite certain disadvantages. They aren't all reds and oranges of course, and similar growth habit can come from other species, but for nearly 40 years I have expected to see warm bright colors from a plant that looked like that rather than cool lavenders, pale pinks or whites. Feel free to rake me over the coals when it turns out to be green or something.

[Carolla]

Well, I have an NOID catt that grows like that, all sprawly. The flowers are med/small (small plant) and bright orange red and waxy. Very free growing and flowering plant. So, there's another one for the red/orange side!

[Spirytman]

Thanks everyone! I truly hope it's a red orange variance. I have lots of purple and whites in my other orchids. Can't wait to find out. Right now I am having great success growing my other orchids in my kitchen. I'm going to try these there as well. I also have a south facing sunlight in my guest bathroom. Figure I have so many cattleyas now, I'll try my luck in there too. oh and I won't be too hard on you PMM if they turn out anything else.
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[Spirytman]

Update on Cattleyas. I found out after a week of owning the cattleyas that the owns potted them in a way too wet mix. So my donation turned into a rescue. I repotted all as soon as i found out. I was so sad. I thought i would lose them all. I had to cut away so many rotted roots. its now been just under three weeks and i am proud to say that none have died. I have active root growth on all the repots and even have new shoots. I think i really dodged a bullet!