Brassophranthe Hawaiian Treat 'Prairie Sunrise'

[cherublace]

those colors are so hot and tropical! just love it!

[Orchidzrule]

The nicest thing about this plant is it seems to be a really easy bloomer & vigorous grower. It has bloomed on every growth but one in the two or three years I've had it. (The one exception put up a spike, but something--very possibly me!--caused the spike to shrivel.) It was my first Cattleya Alliance plant, and it seduced me into getting a bunch more. I do have one question about it--on one occasion it produced several deformed flowers on a spike. Many of the sepals/petals were fused to the lips or missing altogether. Has anyone seen this with other Catts, especially Richard Mueller crosses?

Cheers,

Rob

[Piper]

I had a Richard Mueller cross that was a reliable bloomer on multiple spikes, as well. I do remember a spike with weirdly deformed flowers once. I attributed it to too little water when the spike was setting.

I played with water levels and found that if I watered the plant 2x normal during spike formation and blooming, I could stretch the length of the blooms from 2-3 weeks up to 6-7 weeks.

McJulie

[JoeW]

McJulie, what about fertilization? Just plain water?

A questioning joe

[ischel1]

That is simply gorgeous and cudos to you for the clonal name. Very appropriate.

[Piper]

Joe, with Catts, fert during spike/sheath growth always helps.

The whole flowering system needs "more power to the engines..." It's moisture and fert and sun that produce good blooms.

I always try and water and fert Catts when they push out new growth and sheaths. More power to the engines!

McScotty

[smartie2000]

I love the colour change of those blooms! I need one of these crosses eventually

[Orchidzrule]

Hi all,

McJulie, Regarding the pelhoric (sp?) blooms, I think you nailed it with your suggestion it was insufficient moisture during bud development--especially given my badly uneven watering practices!

Ischel, thanks for the kind words!

Fren, you live on the right side of that international boundary--maybe somewhere down the line I could trade a division of this for a division of one of your gorgeous Phrags!

Cheers,

Rob

[Lizgeo]

Good discussion about deformed flowers on Mueller crosses. I have two in bloom now, every spike has at least 1-2 buds died half way developing. I guess I haven't water/fertilize them regularly between busy holidays and out of town.

[Ron-NY]

Rob don't be reluctant to post your pics...I for one enjoy them. This is not a Photo forum but an orchid forum