A late flowering Cattleya dowiana. I believe it is var Rosita, although not bought as such. Bought as a seedling several years ago, from a french nursery. The spots on the older leaves are from a massive two-spotted spider mite infestation a few years back. I was surprised that Cattleyas could be so much affected by that pest.
This bulb matured in july, but the plant paused the flowering and started a new bulb. That is the one with a green sheath, and I see flower buds in it. So I will have sequential flowering which is a nice bonus. I find that dowiana have rather short-lived flowers. VERY nice fragrance. I live i nothern hemisphere so I try to maximise sunlight and use supplemental light during our dark winters.
This bulb matured in july, but the plant paused the flowering and started a new bulb. That is the one with a green sheath, and I see flower buds in it. So I will have sequential flowering which is a nice bonus. I find that dowiana have rather short-lived flowers. VERY nice fragrance. I live i nothern hemisphere so I try to maximise sunlight and use supplemental light during our dark winters.
