Cattleya purpurata ‘select’ with 17 blooms

[monocotman]

A clone that was bought from Bela Vista orchids via Regina Elsner when it was still possible to import catts fairly easily. It comes from some of the modern breeding in South America and shows much wider, flatter petals.
It arrived as a fairly big plant with three leads five years ago and must enjoy the new grow room as this is easily the best blooming.
It probably has some further improvement to make as the new pseudobulbs are still not full sized.

 

[Linus_Cello]

Wonderful plant and growing

 

[Tom-DE]

That is an outstanding display! Congrats!

 

[terryros]

The petals are wide. Hard to believe it is pure purpurata.

 

[monocotman]

Terry, have a google for new breeding lines in purpurata.

 

[Paphluvr]

Wow, what a display!

 

[terryros]

Terry, have a google for new breeding lines in purpurata.

It seems like line breeding and polyploidy in a number of Cattleya species can produce flowers that rival awarded hybrids!

 

[Ozpaph]

Id love to see that in person!

 

[KyushuCalanthe]

Stunning!

 

[dodidoki]

Fabulous!!!

 

[GuRu]

Great flowers, great plant !

 

[Phragper]

W O W. !!!

 

[tomp]

WELL DONE!
That’s a beautiful example of why we give them the bench space.

 

[Brabantia]

Beautiful !

 

[Brabantia]

What is the plant with red flower left side on your pictures ?

 

[monocotman]

What is the plant with red flower left side on your pictures ?

It’s a single flowered tuberous begonia, in its second year.

 

[GuRu]

It’s a single flowered tuberous begonia, in its second year.

David, can you leave it outdoor during winter in Cornwall ?

 

[monocotman]

Yes as long as it’s fairly dry. I did it with all the tuberous begonias last year. They love the damp mild climate and appear to be resistant to slugs!
When it’s died down I keep the rain off the pot.