dyzzy, does that orchid have a name?
I love it!

Yes, sorry I thought I'd given its name earlier. It is Blc. Mem. Hans Graf x Blc. Edisto You had to ask, huh. I hope Ursula or Jim will elaborate the orchid names thing much better than I, but here's my simple version:

So this purple one of mine is a cross of two different registered hybrid orchids. The grower who made the cross didn't (yet) get a name registered for it, so it's known by the names of its two parents. The Blc. means that both the parents are mixes of three species, Brassavola, Laelia and Cattleya. The "Mem. Hans Graf" means that parent was named in memory of Hans Graf.

jmho The naming thing is the most complicated thing, I tell you. It's because orchid nuts the world over have been breeding and cross-breeding and generally messing with something like 30,000 different species of orchids for a hundred years or more, so now there are just a mind-boggling, ever increasing array of different hybrids.

Bottom line, if you wanted to get a plant just like mine, you might have to actually trace who grew it and originally made the cross. Or wait (possibly years) for mine to be big enough to divide so I can share it with you. I'm pretty sure the nursery where I bought it did not breed it, so no telling if there are a lot more of them around or where they are. Once a plant has a registered name it would be easier to find, as growers would then grow that specific hybrid for sale.


OH, I went back to last November on DG and found this explanation from Jim of the name of this orchid "The orchid is a Cattleya Alliance Hybrid. The Blc is Brassolaeliocattleya (Brassavola X Laelia X Cattleya). So they took two of these, Memoria Hans Graf and Edisto and crossed them. The Memoria just means in honor of someone. I know there are different sports of Edisto so which one is the parent, who knows? If and when this cross is registered, it will get its own name."

I've seen the "soandso x whoever" part in daylilly land.
mem. made sense.
bic, however, was brand new and I'm so glad you explained it!

Pity I won't find one just like yours.
That's my favorite flower color!

I'm wondering how long it would be before I'd have a big enough plant to divide and share. This one, which I bought less than a year ago, has put up two big new stems in that amount of time, and as I said before it also bloomed in March, and was in bloom when I got it, so it seems to be a really vigorous plant. Jim? Ursula? Kathy? When could you divide a big, vigorous Cattleya alliance orchid?

Daylilies are easy to breed true compared to orchids, though. They mature to blooming size fast, so you can see what you've got in probably two years, then you can make divisions to dependably multiply the cross you made if it's a winner. Not so with orchids.

Down side on buying crosses like mine, even if you did find one with the exact same parentage, there's no guarantee it will be exactly the same as mine. That may be why it doesn't have a registered name yet - they have to cross them enough times to dependably get the same characteristics before the Orchid Societies will register its own name. Using a parent like Edisto with a lot of different sports (as Jim said above) you could get a lot of variation for a long time - years and years possibly, as each time they do a cross they have to raise a plant - or batch of plants - from seed for 3 to 5 years before they bloom to see what they've got. Try this if you're curious. Google "Blc. Edisto" and take a look at the various sports of just that one parent.

On the up side, there are LOTS of wonderful purple orchids available. Go with a Dendrobium rather than a Catt hybrid anyway. Their flowers last longer and they're less expensive. I had a beautiful purple one blooming for most of June and July. It's a NoID that I rescued from a Lowe's clearance rack. This Blc. of mine will most likely keep its flowers only about 2 weeks. I'll bore everyone with just a couple more shots now that the third flower is open - you can see the new stem coming up at the very bottom of the picture. The plant is climbing out of its pot, too.

Great advice, Elaine!

Here's the little purple Den from June. It has two new shoots coming along now.

very pretty, Elaine!

Now regarding your nice Blc x with that gorgeous color , you wrote:

Down side on buying crosses like mine, even if you did find one with the exact same parentage, there's no guarantee it will be exactly the same as mine. That may be why it doesn't have a registered name yet - they have to cross them enough times to dependably get the same characteristics before the Orchid Societies will register its own name. Using a parent like Edisto with a lot of different sports (as Jim said above) you could get a lot of variation for a long time - years and years possibly, as each time they do a cross they have to raise a plant - or batch of plants - from seed for 3 to 5 years before they bloom to see what they've got. Try this if you're curious. Google "Blc. Edisto" and take a look at the various sports of just that one parent.

This is partially correct:
The reason that they are differences amongst siblings is the same as it would be with humans, siblings even in the same family are different from each other. Perhaps you might remember Mendel's laws
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M...
But then you say:

That may be why it doesn't have a registered name yet - they have to cross them enough times to dependably get the same characteristics before the Orchid Societies will register its own name.

No, they certainly do not have to get dependably the same characteristics before they can be registered. ( except for Neofinetia falcata divisions, but that is another whole kettle of fish) A breeder will register the hybrid to record its parentage, if he is so inclined.
Now if the breeder (/anyone else ) loves a particular seedling out of the whole population he just obtained by crossing A + B, ( the blooms are perfect, the plant has a great growth habit etc) he might give it a 'Cultivar' /'Clonal' name and take it to be judged.
Now if down the road every one likes that 'Cultivar', and one wishes to propagate that particular Orchid/ obtain the exact same identical clone he will do meristem cloning. Now, theoretically all of the babies obtained by that method should be identical.

About your question, when to divide your Cattleya?
I myself don't divide until I simply either cannot lift the plant any longer, or I can't fit it through the doors. I have botched up more orchids by dividing them at the wrong time, destroyed too many roots or live eyes. If you do divide, it is advisable to have at least 3 good growth/pseudobulbs in that division.

Ah ha, I think it was indeed the Neofinetia falcatas I had been reading about that gave me the idea that names were not given until the characteristics were stablilized.

I dream of the day any of my Cattleyas get big enough that they won't fit through the doors! Critter, I'll promise you a division if that ever happens, ok?

Thanks SO much, Ursula. Phew! Have to keep reminding myself that I only got into growing orchids to see the pretty flowers, and then to learn to grow the plants. When we start discussing the science, my eyes cross and my head aches.

Thanks dyzzy!

As for me, I just could not let the weekend pass without showing off Lc. George Baldwin X C. Trithena. It is setting lots of buds after only a three month rest.

Jim

Which orchid produces the vanilla bean and how hard is it to grow?

Vanilla planifolia is a species of vanilla orchid. It is native to Mexico, and is one of the primary sources for vanilla flavouring, due to its high vanillin content. Common names are Flat-leaved Vanilla, Tahitian Vanilla (for the Pacific stock formerly thought to be a distinct species), and West Indian Vanilla (also used for the Pompona Vanilla, V. pompona). Often, it is simply referred to as "the vanilla". It was first scientifically named in 1808. The flowers are yellow and green, very attractive but only last for a day. The plant grows like a vine and will go right up a tree which makes it a problem to protect from the cold in non tropical climates.

Jim

I was given a cutting of variegated Vanilla back in May and another last fall, but am honestly having no joy. Both cuttings are still alive, on their nice brand-new raft with lots of sphagnum moss. Nice warm temps, air flow, good light, misting with fert. No growth, and the leaves are looking rather sickly. Truthfully, the variegated one is not as vigorous as the V.planifolia. But, sheesh.

I'm thinking it's time to fling them into the nearest tree and let them sink or swim, so to speak.

I tried my hand years ago on some pieces of the variegated Vanilla. It grew alright for me and then I saw a Vanilla plant growing at Hoosier Orchids in Indiana, in their greenhouse. That plant was huge! I realized then, if I grew it properly I simply didn't have the room for it in my climate zone. I gave it away.

I figured it couldn't be easy or everyone would be doing it!
I do grow my own saffron though.

Just opening the first of many blooms on a long spike is Bllra. Marfitch 'Howard's Dream' AM/AOS. More to come on this one as I even see a second spike.

Jim

Very dramatic! Nice!

Thanks, Ursula, and speaking of dramatic, Vanda Sanderiana, var. alba is just opening today. Perhaps I can post her tomorrow. I'm so excited! I've been waiting two years for her to rebloom.

Jim

Cool!

I remember that one!!!