Cattleya dowiana var Rosita

[Mathias]

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.

 

[monocotman]

Wow that is stunning. Great growing!

 

[GuRu]

WOW these flowers are lovely, shape and stance are great ..... and I personally like them more than a 'normal' C. dowiana.

 

[Paphman910]

Beautiful!

 

[Ozpaph]

beautiful flower - a long way from its home!

 

[hkunberger]

That is lovely!

 

[tomp]

Stunning! Good job!

 

[Califoutdoors]

Lovely!

 

[My Green Pets]

Wonderful dowiana, and the new leaves look great! Well done!

 

[dodidoki]

Amazing plant!!!!

 

[PhilaGardener]

Hej Mathias! That looks amazing! Great job recovering from that spider mite infection.

 

[DrLeslieEe]

Nice blooms.

The designation of rosita is that the red veins are spread evenly through the petals and not subject to environmental influences.

Dowianas that are exposed to bright light will often tan with reddish lines randomly on sepals and petals.

So in this case, it looks random and may not be true rosita. The only way to know is when it blooms next year if this trait is consistent?

Still beautiful no matter what.

 

[Mathias]

Nice blooms.

The designation of rosita is that the red veins are spread evenly through the petals and not subject to environmental influences.

Dowianas that are exposed to bright light will often tan with reddish lines randomly on sepals and petals.

So in this case, it looks random and may not be true rosita. The only way to know is when it blooms next year if this trait is consistent?

Still beautiful no matter what.

Thanks! And interesting information. This plant was under really strong light before it flowered. However, the red veins was perhaps more evenly spaced last year when it flowered. Se pic from ladt year. Is this more consistent with var Rosita? Or is it a cross of different dowianas?

 

[Walter Meshaka]

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.
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My goodness, that's beautiful.