Cattleya Alliance Hybrids

When I first started growing orchids, like most people I started with hybrids. As I refined my personal taste over the years, I've gotten rid of most of my Cattleya Alliance hybrids, but there are a few I've kept out of sentimental reasons, or just because I really like them.  Here are some of them.  Culture for all of them is the same.  Growing in Hydroton, watered when dry (in between rains), fertlized when I remember, and left outside year round from about 32F to whatever summertime gives.

Starting out with one of the oldest orchids I have, Cattleya Garrett Collins. I remember ordering this over my brand new cell phone while I was waiting for my son to finish kindersoccer.  Remember when Orchids magazine was a small mag with all the ads in the back?  I used to go to the ads first :)  This was from a "special" that Gold Country was offering.  To give an idea of how long ago it was, that son who was at kindersoccer practice is now 17 years old.  It currently is in a 10" square pond basket filled with Hydroton.  The only complaint I have with this one is since it blooms on partially matured new puesdobulbs, and it is constantly growing new pseudobulbs, I never get the mass of blooms that plants that bloom seasonally give.  But the upside is it is almost always in bloom.  Oh and can't the forget the absolutely delicious fragrance it has.

Another pink hybrid, it also is currently in a 10" square pond basket filled with Hydroton.  It too is one of the first orchids I ever aquired.  I remember buying this at an OSWP spring show - and possibly it was from Fishing Creek Orchids.  That I'm not positive on.  Unfortunately I've lost the tag over the years, and although I absolutely do not buy NOIDs, I've kept this one because I truely like the flower.  When it was smaller, it only bloomed in the spring.  Now, as it has gotten larger, it blooms whenever it feels like it :)  When I took this picture, it had two spikes fully opened, and another set of blooms. And it has a lovely fragrance as well.





This lovely hybrid is Bc. Marg Putman but the reverse cross.  I received this at a Tallahassee orchid society meeting about two years ago.  This is the second blooming.  One of my favorite hybrids is Bl. Morning Glory, and this is the closest I have to it.



A lovely Laelia hybrid is next.  I aquired this from Carter & Holmes 5 - 6 years ago maybe?  The original tag reads L. rubescens alba x aurea.  Since L. rubescens var. aurea has been given species status since then, this is now a hybrid.  This plant gets better and better every year.  The color is actually a bit more yellow in person, my camera doesn't seem to capture the color well.  Also, please forgive the damage on the flowers, I didn't have a chance to take pictures when the flowers were fresh.

This is the first blooming on a plant that I raised from compot.  Guaricattonia Renate 'S&W'.  Colorful cheery little guy. This plant still fits comfortably in a 3 in pot.

Another "special" from Gold Country bought way back when.  This is also a frequent bloomer, except during the hottest part of the summer on partially developed psuedobulbs.  Lovely fragrance as well.



One that I actually picked up in the last couple years, I had to add at least one red one.  Hawkinsara Koolau Sunset. I'm pretty sure this has a clonal name, but I don't have it written down.



ok, moving on to the whites.  First is C. Mem. Ruby Cosby.  Another plant from Carter & Holmes, I find this one not the strongest grower.  But it limps along, and does bloom.



And Caulaelia Mizoguchi.  I received this one a while ago while still living in PA, so pre 2004.  I do remember it came from Carter & Holmes, and it was one of those $7.00 plugs they sold back then.  These pictures are from last year, and it is again in spike as I write today.  This year I have three spikes.  The nice thing about Mizoguchi is it is sequentially blooming, and remains in flower for a good amount of time.



And one I picked up last summer from Odoms.  I'm not sure any flower can beat the fragrance of this one.  Rhyncovola Jimminey Cricket. It too has a clonal name, that I can't remember right now.  Edit:  I should add that this particular hybrid, I do not grow under the conditions I mentioned above.  When I went to repot last summer, it naturally divided itself, and I mounted one piece, and the other piece is in a net pot with lava rock.  The potted piece has been brought inside to grow under T-5s with a minimum temperature of the mid 50sF in the winter. 



And finishing up with a great summer bloomer.  So far, all spikes bloom at the same time, putting on a nice show.  Cattleychea Newberry Butterscotch.

I do have a few more hybrids, but I don't have access to those pictures right now, so I'll end up here.  And Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.













Hoya cembra

I've seen this Hoya's name written as cembra and cembrae, and I'm not sure which is correct.  This plant is also commonly confused with Hoya odorata as well.  I aquired this plant in about 2008, as a very very small rooted cutting.  At first it struggled a bit, but once it started growing, it hasn't stopped.  It bloomed last fall for the first time with a couple flowers.  This year's blooming is much much better.  I grow this one in Turface in a 6 inch pot, allowing it to dry out briefly in between waterings.  Direct morning sun, and it seems to handle my cool winters fine so far.  The flowers are long lasting, about two weeks, and for my plant at least, the buds take turns opening.  Here are a few pictures showing the whole plant, buds, a flower and a close up of a groups of buds and flowers.