Laeliocattleya Frank Lloyd Wright 'York'

[Califoutdoors]

This crazy little Catt came to me 4 months ago, potbound, in sheath. Its newest sheathed growth was considerably smaller than previous growths. When I saw budding new roots, I repotted in early November, despite seeing buds forming in the sheath. I ended up cutting off 3 old leafless growths, and half of its roots (which were extensive). I expected it would blast the buds after such an extensive hack job and repot…

But the buds never stopped and it’s been blooming since Christmas—very early for this beautiful hybrid that normally blooms March-May. The flowers are smaller—4.5”—as this hybrid is known for large 6”+ blooms. But I’m thrilled to have Catt blooms at the New Year. No fragrance yet, but my fingers are crossed…!

 

[Linus_Cello]

Looks compact. Who’s the vendor?

 

[Ozpaph]

nice, showy catt

 

[terryros]

This is now a Cattleya. It is a Hausermann’s creation with classic parents (Irene Finney x Drumbeat) registered in 1981. ‘York’ was used by Hausermann’s for outstanding cultivars they identified, so this is likely to have been cloned. Thus, it could have been found various places. It does not appear to have been AOS awarded, although both parents were awarded a number of times.

 

[big923cattleya]

It has suffered a bit, likely from being cramped in a pot before you got it. Both Drumbeat and Horace are wonderful parents with Horace being the best lavender parent around all time in my opinion.
I would give it about two years to recover from lesser than ideal culture and I would be willing to wager that you end up with a real good plant!

 

[Califoutdoors]

Looks compact. Who’s the vendor?

This is a more compact hybrid. Got it from Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, in Santa Barbara, CA, where it was grown outdoors. I grew it outdoors here in North CA, until night temps dropped below 58F, then which a mini heater and fan were installed with a poly cover—over the Aluminet—that velcros on and off. Temps now are 59F-62F nights, 60F-80F days (depending on sun coverage).

Have attached some pics of my hand made custom mini greenhouse. It seems to be working well as besides this Catt, I have a complex Paph, and a Dendrobium kingianum hybrid, blooming too.

 

[Califoutdoors]

This is now a Cattleya…

Thanks for the update—hard to keep up with all the inter species updates…!

 

[big923cattleya]

Don’t be surprised if it grows beyond compact.

 

[gonewild]

This is a more compact hybrid. Got it from Santa Barbara Orchid Estate, in Santa Barbara, CA, where it was grown outdoors.

If it's from their outdoor area then it has survived temperatures below freezing for extended hours and days.
Considering that it looks really good!

 

[Califoutdoors]

If it's from their outdoor area then it has survived temperatures below freezing for extended hours and days.
Considering that it looks really good!

I’ve always gotten great plants from SBOE over the last 25 years. They’re hardy from being outside in SoCal, most often a little pale, even yellow, dotted with character. They’ve done MUCH better for me than the picture perfect bright green glowing imported plants (Hawaii, Asia, Puerto Rico), that promptly threw fits about being moved from ideal growing conditions into my more humble conditions; they most often take at least a year to adjust/bloom. Truly hothouse beauties that look the part, but are prima donnas deluxe. I choose heartily grown plants, such as from SBOE, over the fussy prima donna imports whenever I can.

 

[Califoutdoors]

Don’t be surprised if it grows beyond compact.

Yeah—I was surprised how small this plant is. I grew Drumbeat and Horace in the past, and they were probably 30% larger than this plant. But I’ve seen pictures of this orchid posted by Hausermann’s on Instagram, from last spring, and their mature plants were almost this compact—their blooms were enormous and dwarfed the plant.

 

[gonewild]

I’ve always gotten great plants from SBOE over the last 25 years. They’re hardy from being outside in SoCal, most often a little pale, even yellow, dotted with character. They’ve done MUCH better for me than the picture perfect bright green glowing imported plants (Hawaii, Asia, Puerto Rico), that promptly threw fits about being moved from ideal growing conditions into my more humble conditions; they most often take at least a year to adjust/bloom. Truly hothouse beauties that look the part, but are prima donnas deluxe. I choose heartily grown plants, such as from SBOE, over the fussy prima donna imports whenever I can.

I completely agree. My first visit to SBOE was 60 years ago,

 

[Califoutdoors]

I completely agree. My first visit to SBOE was 60 years ago,

Wow—how wonderful to have that history.

Did you also visit Stewart’s in LA/Culver City? I got outstanding hybrid Catts from Stewart’s too—great growers.