I had to check my old orders to check how long I have this one. I ordered a young plant in 2016! Young plant means it will need about 2 more years to maturity when it is ready to bloom.
Well... my one took almost exactly 6 years. This is the very first time I see the flowers. Finally!
Sophrolaeliocattleya Jewel Box 'Dark Waters'
The name is a bit of a tongue twister. It is cross between
Guarianthe aurantiaca and Cattleya Anzac. It also can be found under Cattlianthe name. I am not sure which one is the valid now.
Cattleya types are known to like higher temperatures and more light and looks like they do feel good in my place (I have 3). They do have to dry properly between watering and do not mind stay dry for a bit. I do not treat them any different than my other plants and water them with tap water with some fertilizer when I remember.
They also seem to be taking my abuse quite well (forgetting to water for longer time). The pseudobulbs will shrivel a bit, but the will go back to their plump form after a proper soak.
Another cool thing about it is that it hardly gets any pests. I do struggle with trips from time to time on my dendrobiums. They do not seem to be interested in this plant.
To propagate it you have to split the rhizome between the pseudobulbs making sure there are at least 3 of them in each section. I am not planning to do that with mine though. I want it nice and big!
It is also possible to propagate though seeds, but it's almost impossible in home conditions.
 |  |
As I mentioned I got it 6 years ago. It was a small, young plant, but I also made sure it is one of the smaller types. Cattleyas can grow damn big and I did not want that.
Since them it just grew. Every pseudobulb was bigger than the previous, but since I never saw one in real life (got this one online) I wasn't quite sure how big they have to be to be called a mature.
Now a little bit about how they grow: each new pseudobulb (the stem) will start to grow from the bottom of the previous one. When maturing, the new one will start to grow roots (this is the best time to repot them too) and slowly mature.
Most will produce one leaf (unifoliate cattleyas) or two leaves (bifoliate cattleyas). It does happen than the bifoliate will grow single leaf, but that doesn't change anything. It just didn't have the strength for the second one, or is not mature enough.
From between those leaves, when the cane matures a sheath will grow. This is where the buds start to form before they actually show up.
Back to my orchid: Last year I noticed a sheath forming and I was all excited to see the flowers. But the sheath turned dark brown and dried up. No flower. Oh well.. nice try, hopefully next time.
This year the newest cane was the biggest of them all and it also started to grow sheath. Of course I got all exited again (no, I don't need much :p ) and was looking forward to see the flowers open. Then one day I noticed it slowly turns dark. Again! And after a few days it dried up. Bollox! And no, I was not an exited happy camper anymore.
But wait... the sheath was getting kind of fat. Is there a bud inside after all?
Sure, I could google if this is what they do, though I was convinced they are not supposed to dry, but stay nice and green. My other plant also produces those, but they are so small, I don't even pay attention to them.
Some weeks later buds pierced the dry pocket and I started to see the colours. Boy oh boy :)
Isn't that just fucking gorgeous?
The flowers are quite large, about tennis ball size. No fragrance, but that's ok.
You can see the roots and the whole plant here. The leaves are thick and very stiff. They almost feel like they are made of thick plastic. Nothing bends and nothing moves.
 |  |
Guess who was helping me this time...
Shot with Nikon D5500 + Sigma 105mm lens
All photos and text are my own.
Wow, what a beauty!
She thanked your patience with a magnificent flower color!
Yea... the colour is amazing!
Took her a while though.
This was well worth the wait. 6 years? Wow a late bloomer is an understatement but you know what they say.......
Six years to flower when it should be in two. If it took nine years, would you wait for it?
That shy orchid and you together are a poem.
I would wait 9 too :). Either way that or throw it away. I wouldn't do that if it is a healthy plant.
The 2 years waiting is also an estimated time for young plants that they show in a shop when you buy one. All depends on the size of the seedling, conditions and how you treat it. She does have a hard time with me sometimes and I think I should fertilize it more often.
All good :)
I'd probably think it was dead by that time. I've had orchids before and they seem to be a very resilient plant but something always happens to mine
Yeaaa :D
At least she finally did it! And I did not kill it in the meantime :)
I tend to to kill mine or often forget to water them. When they're out they look beautiful, otherwise it looks like a dried up plant
I bought my first orchid 2 years ago. I got it from the grocery store....LOL... no telling it's background....but, that year it kept it's blooms SO long that I was amazed because I was sure it would die within weeks of me bringing it home.
Last year I saw something coming out of the middle and I was so excited at first, but found it to only be a green leaf. No bloom last year, only another green leaf later.
It is lucky it is still here. Non-producers don't normally get to stay. I changed the window it was in last fall because I had a new place near my work desk. In the last weeks, a couple of new roots have shot out and there are several more little green nubs at the base that may only be more roots, I can't really tell, but it's life depends on there being a bloom this year. 😄 .... if not.... out it goes !
Can you take a photo of those green nubs? The new roots look different than the flower spike.
Also flower spike usually grows under the second leaf (I am guess you have Phalaenopsis orchid) and never twice from the same spot. So it is good she is growing leaves.
I have lots of orchids from grocery store :) My two biggest ones are from there. They are awesome!
I didn't see what the two new green roots looked like before they were an inch or two long, so I had nothing to compare, but all the little nubs look similar. Also you can see the "stick" that was the base of the past bloom. It appears to be coming right out of the base of the root.
These are roots. But it's good that new ones are growing :)
New roots and new leaves every year are a must for it to bloom. If it does all that and still no flowers - put it in brighter spot, but not direct sunlight and give some fertilizer once a month. It should boost it.
What colour is it?
White'ish... with a hint of pale green.
I don't think I have a brighter spot in the house besides where it is now. It is brighter than the window it was in the first year I had it. That may be why all the roots. Just guessing.
Pretty :)
Let her grow then. She needs healthy roots and leaves to bloom.
What a beautiful orchid.
Six years, really makes it worth the wait and it makes it so much more special and beautiful.
Hello dear friend @ewkaw good night I admire the great knowledge you have about plants, I have seen other posts of yours that dazzle you with what you know
I appreciate that you share these beautiful images and all their information
Have a beautiful night
Hello and thank you!
I am glad you enjoyed the post :)
It is interesting all the information you share on this subject of plants in addition to the great pictures as always :)
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
Enhorabuena. Has recibido apoyo
The Creative Coin Fund.
Únete al servidor de Creative Coin y comparte tus publicaciones.
Congratulations. You have received support from
The Creative Coin Fund.
Join the Creative Coin server and share your posts.
Selección manual de @elemarg25
Image by barbara-orenya
Thank you @elemarg25 :)
Yay! 🤗
Your content has been boosted with Ecency Points, by @dayatsiaulia.
Use Ecency daily to boost your growth on platform!
Support Ecency
Vote for new Proposal
Delegate HP and earn more
beautiful orchids, very distinctive with a very beautiful red color
Thanks :)
You’ve Been Upvoted By Hive-113748 ~ The Orchid Lovers Community!
We LOVED your post featuring Orchids and are thrilled that you chose our community to share it in!
Thank you :-)
The Orchid Lovers Community
A place for people who Love Orchids!
What a beauty!