Cattleya Lodiglossa

[Happypaphy7]

A primary hybrid between two pink species.
It is a first time bloomer, and a nice surprise to me because the spike grew out of this completely dry sheath that has been "dead" for a long time!
In the last three months time, it completed growing an entire new growth with two smaller leaves and a green sheath.

I love the flowers, but I was expecting nice fragrance and higher flower count.
There are also some spots at the back side of the flowers.
Aren't both loddigesii and amethystoglossa fragrant?

I have to say though, I am going to have to keep an eye on the plant size over time as I have seen some gigantic plant of amethystoglossa.

This plant is just barely one foot tall at the moment. Manageable for now.

 

[Lanmark]

I think it's lovely! You might get a higher flower count as the plant matures.

Also, I have found with many fragrant orchids, the fragrance comes out better with a more buoyant atmosphere such as is found in a large greenhouse or outdoors in spring and summer. A few rays of sun also helps to coax out a reluctant scent. How many days have the flowers been open? Sometimes it takes 1 - 3 days for the scent to develop. Each plant can be unique in that regard.

When you say spots at the back sides of the flowers, what do you mean? I am assuming you are not referring to the lovely spattering of color seen on the front. If you mean spots of damage, is it possible the long duration of the dry sheath prior to flowering had something to do with these back side spots?

 

[Happypaphy7]

I'll keep on checking on the fragrance.

Oh, I meant spots on the back as in natural spots.
I found the opening buds with spots all over quite attractive! should have taken pictures of that, too.

I really hope it will make a head of big clusters in the future without the plant getting super big. I know, I want it all!

 

[tnyr5]

Lanmark is right; you won't get those big clusters of flowers until the pseudobulbs are 3+ feet tall.

 

[Happypaphy7]

Dang! Hopefully not because it would be too big for me to keep around.

BTW, I just saw C. amethystoglossa that was over three feet tall with only about five flowers at a friend's greenhouse. maybe sick or crappy plant?
or not enough sun? It was rather shaded by all the vandas hanging over it.

 

[Ozpaph]

that's a pretty flower

 

[SlipperFan]

Pretty pink!

 

[abax]

It's a very pretty flower and I'd probably make space for
it if it was mine.

 

[Happypaphy7]

I took pollen off one flower yesterday to cross with nodosa and that flower wilted that same day! How interesting!
Thank goodness I didn't harvest from all three flowers. lol