Vasco Midnight Treasure - a miniature hybrid

[Dorsetman]

The flowers are like a large Asctm curvifolium, but maybe one inch across, Interestingly the back of the flowers is a good blue, but the front a more dusky hue with a hint of pink.
The parentage is two Vasco hybrids crossed together - V.Tham Yeuen Hue x V. Broga Bluebell. Looking at the genetics, it is about 40% Rhy. coelestis which accounts for the colour, and about 15% Asctm curvifolium which must help keep the flowers -small since the rest of the bloodline is large Vandas - sanderiana, coerulea, and luzon.
A first flowering in my collection, grown from a 3 inch leaf-span seedling - now in a 4 inch basket, and maybe 6 inches or perhaps a bit bigger, leaf-span.
Not a showstopper, but a nice little feature of interest in my collection at the moment.

[sammywolffox]

What an interesting little orchid---very nice!

[k_andreev]

lovely mini vanda you have

[pavel]

I was surprised too that the back side of the flowers have the richer coloration. Too bad that.

[stateless]

I like the coloration, very nice, I have a vanda blooming now that the back of the bloom is brighter a beautiful sight with the sun hitting it, very nice lip on this one

[catttan]

It is a lovely little thing and the most to difficult to capture in a photo, the colour of the front of the flowers. The blue of the back is easy enough to capture but the colour of the front is another matter. I've tried various lighting but have never been completely successful and using flash gives the least satisfactory results. Now that yours has bloomed for the first time you can expect it to flower several times a year, often with 2 spikes. BTW mine is mounted on a piece of wood and it has also produced a keiki.

[Cjcorner]

Ahhh...I thought it looked familiar. I have a plant that is part of the cross in this one. Your flowers look a great deal like the Tham Huen parent. I just adore the color and can't wait for my plant to get larger flowers. I had to cut the first spike so it could put it's energy into growing. Your pictures have caught the "glowing" quality to the flower. Very nice....

[angela]

A 'Treasure" indeed. I love the colouration.
Good job

[Dorsetman]

I. BTW mine is mounted on a piece of wood and it has also produced a keiki.

That is very interesting. I now have all but the last couple of dozen cattleyas on wood, and a few oncidiums, miltonias, encyclias etc too. All growing well. I have just started mounting a few Bulbo's as well.
But the few vandaceous orchids I have tried - Vanda, Mokara, Rhyncho, Aerides, did not seem to be very keen . I think only one of maybe 20 plants has actually grown new roots which have clung to the wood ; for the others I might just as well be growing with the plant just hung up by a piece of wire. I am scratching my head about this !
Maybe Asctm is an exception ? And the Asctm in this hybrid is the reason ?

[catttan]

That is very interesting. I now have all but the last couple of dozen cattleyas on wood, and a few oncidiums, miltonias, encyclias etc too. All growing well. I have just started mounting a few Bulbo's as well.
But the few vandaceous orchids I have tried - Vanda, Mokara, Rhyncho, Aerides, did not seem to be very keen . I think only one of maybe 20 plants has actually grown new roots which have clung to the wood ; for the others I might just as well be growing with the plant just hung up by a piece of wire. I am scratching my head about this !
Maybe Asctm is an exception ? And the Asctm in this hybrid is the reason ?

Possibly Geoff. I mount all those with Ascocentrum, Aerides and Rhyncostylis in their parentage, but not the pure vandas. However I have not mounted cattleyas yet but will definitely do so when next I transplant.