The Dark Waters

This orchid really likes to test my patience. The wait for the flowers seems like forever. First the pseudobulb must mature, then the sheath shows up, dries up (still not sure if that is normal to dry first), and only then something starts to grow inside. From that point it will take another few weeks for the buds to open. But when it finally blooms, it also stays open for quite a long time. So I guess it's all worth it.

This is her second blooming and it is better than the previous one too. Before it had two flowers, now there are three. A small detail, but it all counts. And then I go google some photos and see the massive sizes other people have with dozens of flowers on... oh boy.. when??

Sophrolaeliocattleya Jewel Box 'Dark Waters'

And no, I cannot remember or pronounce the name. I have to check it every time. For simplicity I call it "The red Cattleya". It is also the only red orchid I have. I had Epidendum, but I gave it away. It wasn't happy in a flat and it was growing huge. Now it is happy in the fresh air in a garden somewhere else :)

Back to this beauty: it is one of the smaller Cattleya types. They normally grow very big (and have big, ballsy flowers) and I was avoiding buying them for this reason.
The bulbs are nice and fatty, and the leaves are very stiff. I will have to repot it later this year as it has reached the edges of the pot and new growths do not have the room anymore. It started to grow in a few directions too, so either way I will split it and put it back in the regular 12cm pots, or I will keep it as it is and use a bigger pot that should last for another 2 years or so.





The flowers are about the size of an apple and have the most amazing deep red colour. My camera hates it though, but I think you get the idea.
The only thing I don't like about it is the fragrance. It smells like plastic. Good it is not very intensive, and I don't feel it all day long. What a shame.

And since one of my most reliable bloomers is in bloom again (duhh), I will show it too. The orange Procatavola Golden Peacock blooms a few times a year and I have shown it separately too. Just as the Cattleya it started to grow in a few directions and the bulbs are touching the edge of the pot. Same situation here: bigger pot this year, or it is splitting time. I like how grassy the leaves are on this one.





Both of them are very easy to grow (as long as they are not overwatered) and I never had any problem with bugs on them. Unlike some of the Dendorbiums that are like a magnet for thrips, spidermites and other leaf diseases.

I was always a huge Dendrobium fan, but because of these two I start to switch a bit. They are just so low maintenance they even beat cacti :D





I don't stake the flower stems here. I let them just hang freely.





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