Cymbidium Via Diablo 'Sweetheart'

[OrchidAddict]

I wish I could take credit for blooming this one, but at least I can take credit for getting it for a ridiculously low price! I stopped by the flower discount shop that I normally go to for $6 NOID phalaenopsis plants to rescue...and they had Cymbidiums!! I just about fell on the floor, I was so surprised. Not only did they have them...but they had TAGS!!! WAHOO!!!

Anyway, I had to stop myself from buying up the entire lot of them. They were selling these beautiful plants for $10!!! This Via Diablo is a HUGE plant...I didn't even realize how big it was until I got it home and tried to find a spot for it in the house! Tons of foliage, and a GORGEOUS flower display. Gosh, I'm glad I didn't buy a whole bunch of these!! I'd never find room!



It was a difficult choice, too. I stood gaping at the Cymbidiums for a good 15 minutes before I finally decided that this one was my favorite. The lip has some incredibly dark purple pigmentation on it, which makes for a very striking flower.



I hope I can rebloom it...I would be incredibly thrilled to get a new round of flowers out of this monster next year! I showed my husband the tag and read the name of 'Sweetheart' to him. He laughed and said he didn't think that was a very good name for it. "It looks like a 'BUBBA' to me," he said decisively. "Yep. That's what I'm going to call it. You call it what you want...I'm calling it "Bubba."

So, here's one more view of one of "Bubba's" flowers!



I'm pretty sure I'm in love with "Bubba." My son thinks it's an AWESOME plant...most of my orchids are smaller, so when he saw this, he went "Whoah!!!! COOL!!!" He stuck his nose in one of the flowers (he had to stretch up to reach it, and the flower was nearly the size of his head...LOL)...and then he declared that it smells like raspberries. I don't necessarily get "raspberries" from the scent, but it definitely has a lovely floral aroma to it. It's not enough to fill the room, though...you kind of have to get "all up in the flower's business" to smell it!

Anyway, I don't know what I'm doing with Cymbidiums yet, so for right now I'm just admiring it. I imagine I'll take it outside when the flowers drop so it can enjoy the cool nights of spring, once all danger of frost has passed.

Hope you enjoyed the pics of my newest beauty! My house is quickly turning into a jungle....