Orchid of the day: Cattlianthe Trick or Treat (previously known as Laeliocattleya (Lc) Trick or Treat)

Cattlianthe Trick or Treat

When I started putting this post together, I was told the name of this orchid is Laeliocattleya (Lc) Trick or Treat. Then Arne started researching and found out the name has changed! So the new name for this complex hybrid is Cattlianthe Trick or Treat. When he bought this orchid, he was told it wasn't going to be too big but of course over the years, the orchid grew and grew. He has had this orchid for at least 4 years now. Today we measured and we found that the height of this orchid including the 4 inch pot is 20 inches. 

A) Jan. 23rd 2015

B) Jan. 31st 2015

C) Feb. 12th 2015.

Below is a paragraph Arne put together to explain why and what the name change is all about. 

I don’t really like very complex hybrids so I bought my Laeliocattleya Trick or Treat at the Maryland orchid because it didn’t look like a hybrid and it its orange color was very intense. That was four years ago.  Since then it is not a Laeliocattleya anymore.  One of its grandparents, Cattleya aurantiaca, belonged to the group of bifoliate Cattleyas that are now all clustered into the genera Guarianthe.  Two other grandparents were Laelia cinnabarina and Laelia crispate, orange and yellow, respectively, which are now considered Cattleyas.

This all ends up with an orchid hybrid that involves the two genera Cattleya and Guarianthe and the final name ends up being Cattlianthe Trick or Treat.  No one should believe that this is the final name.  I will continue calling it Laeliocattleya because I’m sure the Royal Horticultural Society in England will come up with different names for the parents soon. -by Arne.

D) Jan. 23rd, the four blooms developing.

E) Two blooms fully opened on Jan. 30th.

F) Up close of the brightly colored blooms

G) A side profile.

H) By Feb. 12, all four flowers are opened.

I) The flowers are all still in bloom March 1st 2015.

That's my post for this weekend. As usual, more to come! We do have a few just bursting to bloom! Let's pray the cold Winter ends soon and Spring will be on her way soon!

Orchid of the day: Angraecum sesquipedale

Angraecum sesquipedale

I posted about our Angraecum sesquipedale last year (January 27th 2014) and I do recommend for those interested to refer to my earlier post for some background information. Briefly though, this orchid originates from Madagascar and needs a special moth (Xanthopan morganii) to pollinate it as you can see the long extended spur on each of the two flowers. 

A) December 14th 2014, we noticed a prominent flower stem growing out of the leaves.

Initially we expected two flower stems to grow out of the leaves but only one flower stem became fully developed. Angraecum sesquipedale orchids are monopodial orchids, meaning they grow upwards from a single point and they tend to produce a lot of aerial roots.

B) A different angle of the the flower stem with two developing flower buds.

C) By January 14th 2015, the spurs from the two flowers are clearly protruding out. 

D) Up close of the developing flowers. Interesting looking, aren't they?

E) The spurs began to straightened out by January 31st.

F) They remind me of swans at this point.

G) February 18th, 2015. Both flowers are completely open. The one to the right opened at least one week earlier and due to the severe cold weather we have been having and less humidity in the house, you can see that the two petal tips are browning a little.

H) The width of the flower from right to left is ~ 6.5 inches while the spurs are ~ 1 feet in length.

This amazing looking orchid is a wonder to me. I love the fact that they still exist in the wild andthat they need a highly specialize means of pollinating, i.e. that one particular moth species. The environment is precious and we share the world with so many amazing living beings. Okay, getting off my soapbox now. Hope you had a good read. 

Orchid of the day: Aerangis luteo-alba var. rhodosticta

Aerangis luteo-alba var. rhodosticta

Arne wrote the paragraph below as an introduction to this fascinating orchid. When it arrived, it really didn't look like much but once the pendulous inflorescence appeared, this miniature orchid from Africa proved to be a jewel among our collection of orchids.

In the same way as humans are the most developed and therefore also the youngest of all mammals, orchids are the most specialized and youngest additions to the world of plants.  The most well-known specialized orchid species is Angraecum sequipedale in Madagascar that has a spur that is about a foot in length that only one particular moth, Xanthopan morganii praedicta, can pollinate.  We have that one and it will be presented in this blog in a week or so (it was featured almost exactly one year ago in this blog).  Another African orchid related to Angraecum that I always wanted to grow is Aerangis luteo-alba var rhodosticta.  It is almost the only orchid in the tropical part of Africa that is not purely white.  It has yellowish white flowers (luteo-alba) with a bright orange-red column (rhodosticta).  It is supposedly notoriously difficult to culture (I still don’t know why) so I hesitated to get one.  Nevertheless, here it is in all its beauty after 7 months in my care. 

-by Arne.

A) October 26th, 2014. A healthy looking orchid which Arne transferred from the plastic pot it came in to the current cork bark.

B) By Dec 14th, four distinct flower stems were in the advance stages of development.

C) A clearer shot of the four flower stems.

D) About one month later, January 18th, about 51 flower buds were developing at this time.

E) The four flower stems at a different angle.

F)  Upon closer examination, you can see the spurs developing on each individual flower.

G) January 25th, I decided to have Arne hold the Aerangis luteo-alba var. rhodosticta up to give a sense of proportion.

H) The flowers are produced in two rows on a single plane.

I) By January 31st, almost all flowers are opened. But as it turns out, there are 56 flowers this time around.

J) Up close; the flowers open very flat. The color of our orchids are more towards pale yellow with the bright orange or vermillion hue in the center.

I hope you found this post entertaining. The transformation of this orchid from the moment it arrived to what it is today is quite amazing. Until next time then, have a good week.

Orchid of the day: Paphiopedilum dianthum

Paphiopedilum dianthum

This orchid began flowering sooner than expected! I felt I had only recently posted about it but when I looked back, the post was dated July 28, 2014. It had been five months but it would appear that this orchid is happy and decided to flower quite so soon. Just a brief refresher for those interested, Paphiopedilum dianthum is native to Southwestern China and Northern Vietnam, where the forest is semi-deciduous, evergreen with mossy wet areas.

A) Due to the unexpected speed of growth, by December 14th, the flower stem had three buds. 

B) The three buds up close.

C) By January 18th, the buds had almost fully developed.

D) A more detailed photo of the three flowers on January 18th, 2015.

E) A side-by-side comparison of the flowers, Jan 18th (left) and Jan 25th (right). Notice that all of the side petals are fully spiral in shape (right).

F) The full status of our Paphiopedilum dianthun today. All blooms are fully opened on January 25th, 2015.

G) Arne wanted me to mention that the horizontal spread, i.e. the length from the left side of the flower to the right side is 15 cm.

H) I thought it would be interesting to see the contrast before the flowers bloom on Dec. 14th, 2014 (left) and the final product today (right).

I hope you enjoyed the photos and my post today. Again I must say, this is one of my favorite orchids. The unique shape and hue makes it very exotic.

Orchid of the day: Rhynchovola Jimminey Cricket

Rhynchovola Jimminey Cricket

I posted about Rhynchovola Jimminey Cricket on August 11, 2014. These flowers developed sooner than expected. The orchid appears to be doing well and this could be the reason for the early flowers.

A) Nov 19th, we noticed one flower stem developing with two flower buds.

B) A close up of the flower buds.

C) By Jan 19th, almost 2 months later, the flowers were completely opened.

D) A close up of one of the flower.

E) Side profile of the flowers.

F) It never ceases to amaze me how these orchids can thrive on a single piece of bark.

From my post August 11th, 2014, I introduced Rhynchovola Jimminey Cricket as a primary hybrid. A cross between Rhycholaelia digbyana (syn. Brassavola digbyana) and Brassavola nodosa (Lady of the Night). We actually have a Brassavola nodosa, which we thought would NEVER flower. 

G) Notice how green and lush the entire orchid looks. Pity, only one flower this time.

Arne called the Brassavola nodosa 'vegetative' and wanted to throw it away because he had it for three years without any flowers. But I convinced him to keep the orchid because it is so healthy. Well, it finally flowered, well, only one flower! A beautiful single flower.

H) A close up of the Brassavola nodosa flower. I hope Arne keeps it...I think it is pretty.