Orchid of the day: Cattleya cernua (previously Sophronitis cernua)

Cattleya cernua

This miniature beauty originates from South Eastern Brazil to North Eastern Argentina and can even be found inland in Bolivia and Paraguay. This warm growing orchid grows epiphytically and lithophytically in dense clusters. The flower sizes ranges from about 2.2 cm to 2.7 cm (1” to 1 ¼”). Cattleya cernua was called Sophronitis cernua and belonged to the genus Sophronitis until in January 2008, the International Orchid Committee voted to make the genus Sophronitis synonymous with Cattleya, hence Cattleya cernua. Cattleya cernua  is commonly known as ‘Nodding Sophronitis’ and in nature, hummingbirds are the pollinators as they are drawn to the bright warm colours of the blooms.

A) Nov 8th, 2014. Arne has had this orchid since 2007 and it had flowered every year with two to three flowers each time until this year.

B) On Nov. 8th, we noticed two rather prominent flower stems.

C) By Dec 14th, three of the six flowers from the first flower stem broke through.

D) The flowers up close. I love the bright, vibrant colour of these orchids. Beautiful and petite.

E) A side profile of how the flowers are creeping out of the flower sheath, the sheath which in turn, becomes a leaf.

F) Dec. 21st. All of the six flowers made it out. Love the colour!

G) Isn't this a perfect Christmas orchid? Cheers me up when it is wet and gloomy outside...

H) This photo gives me a 'bonsai-zen' like feeling.

I) Flower stem 2 still holding on to the buds on Dec 21st. 

J) Another great shot (I think anyway), of this orchid.

K) Dec. 24th. Finally three flowers are breaking through the second flower stem!

As of today, we have the grand total of nine flowers from our Cattleya cernua. As I was taking this last photo, Arne pointed out that there is a third flower stem developing today.  I only hope all the flowers will be blooming at once so I can get the money shot! I must say that I like calling it Sophronitis cernua...

In any case, in Sweden Dec 24th is the big day of celebration, I wish you all:

"God Jul och Gott Ny År!"

(Translation; Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!)

Orchid of the day: Cattleya walkeriana var. coerulea

Cattleya walkeriana var. coerulea 2014

I posted about Cattleya walkeriana var. coerulea on January 29th, 2014. This orchid seems to bloom at the same time this year. We had high hopes this year as we noticed there were at least 3 flower stems developing in November. A brief background, the common name of this orchid is Walker's Cattleya, in honour of an English orchid collector in Brazil in the 1800s. Also known as the Queen of the Brazilian Savannah.

A) I started following the flower stems' development on Nov 8th. Clearly four buds were breaking out into blooms at this stage.

B) Upon further examination, we saw a flower stem slowly developing from the top at the same time.

C) By Nov 19th, two of the flower buds to the very right opened and a strong fragrance filled the air. It would appear the buds were not quite synchronized to open at the same time!

D) The newly opened flower had a clear light purple hue on the petals and dark purplish vein-like pattern on the lip. If you look closely, there is a tinge of yellow in the center, the column.

E) Still, only two flowers opened up on Nov 19th...

As I kept waiting for all six blooms to open up, I realized that if I keep waiting to post this, the two early flowers (Nov 8th) would be gone. We saw the saw phenomena last year where after one month of flowering the bright purple colour began to fade away and so does the fragrance. 

F) Dec 14th 2014. The last two buds still haven't opened up.

G) The shape of the four blooms are still intact but the colours are fading away.

H) Finally the two buds in the above photo (G) opened up on Dec 20th.

I) Observe the clear difference in the intensity of the colours between the two flowers to left and the other two to the right. Looks like two different orchids. By this time, the two flowers which bloomed on Nov 19th (C), had withered away.

J) Here are the four flowers from Dec 28th 2013. The peak of their glory.

It is also obvious to us that the orchid has grown a lot since last year. Clearly doing well and mostly we will have to split them in 2015. Of course we will need more space!

Update Orchid of the day: Laelonia Dave's Dapper Dandee.

Updating my post from November 10th, 2014:

I am a follower of an orchid forum in the web and I shared this lovely photo with the community. Another orchid expert was kind enough to point out that this hybrid has a name. It is called Laelonia Dave's Dapper Dandee. This name is registered to Joe Francis, a well known orchid grower living in Herndon, Virginia.

This hybrid was Broughtonia negrilensis x Laelia crawshayana
but now Laelonia Dave's Dapper Dandee

Update 1: Nov 22nd 2014, all five flowers in bloom. 

Update 2: All five flowers from the top

Laelonia Dave's Dapper Dandee

As promised, this is our Laelonia Dave's Dapper Dandee. In contrast to the flowers from the previous year, these flowers have very light purple to white on the sepals and petals. The darker purple hue with fine purplish veins are focused on the lip.

A) A better photo depicting the clear contrast in the deep purple color on the lip.

B) This photo was taken in April 2014. I wanted this picture in this post as a comparison of how the plant looked without any flower stem. 

C) October, a very clear flower stem developed and at least five flowers will be blooming soon.

D) The five flower buds up close.

E) The length of the flower stem is between 22 to 24 inches.

F) Frontal shot of the biggest flower. We are still waiting for the other three flowers to open up.

G) View of the two blooms and the three buds from the back.

H) Here's Anthony! The Laelonia Dave's Dapper Dandee is hanging on the chair.

I) A great close up shot of the flowers.

I hope you enjoyed looking at the flowers. I will post an update when all five flowers are in bloom. Until the next post!

Thank you Ray Barkalow of Buckingham, Pennsylvania, for identifying the correct name of this beautiful hybrid.