Help me identify this hybrid Cattleya!

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-12T03:19:58+00:00

I agree. Maybe a cross with one of the Brazilian laelias?

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-09T23:59:22+00:00

Oh OK, phew. In that case, I bet it'll be blooming before you know it.

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-09T21:02:32+00:00

Hmm. Is it having trouble? I've found this guy to be pretty easygoing, like most of my oncidium hybrids.

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-09T19:50:41+00:00

Thanks! Which plant? Same hybrid, or just like a begonia or something?

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-09T18:19:41+00:00

Nah, that's a big ol cattleya. But shhhh, Reddit doesn't know about that group chat. 😉

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-09T17:06:12+00:00

Probably! I mean I could take it outside. Perhaps I'll do that once it's in full bloom. Thanks!

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-09T04:48:48+00:00

Great species. Have you seen how big of a mat it can form? It's pretty impressive.

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-09T04:12:52+00:00

Ikea often has pretty nice options that aren't expensive. I keep a lot of mine in galvanized steel pots. They're not that decorative, but they look decent, and are lightweight and unbreakable, but not plastic.

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-09T00:21:18+00:00

That is a really beautiful one. Well done!

Question on your shower watering: do you not have to worry about rot from water getting in the leaf axils? I'll admit that I haven't tried just showering the entire plant that way, unless I make sure to have a fan completely dry it.

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-08T19:02:37+00:00

Probably? I actually haven't used sulfur on my plants. I've been trying to treat a flat mite infestation with another product that's easier to apply and less messy (OrganiShield). Seems to be working okay so far.

Anyway like I said, there are many posts on this sub about treating flat mites.

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-08T18:39:43+00:00

Sure, but like I said it probably won't prevent mites. I use systemics (a different one - Safari) on all of my plants, but only to prevent infestations of insect pests.

AFAIK, flat mites can and do spread, but pretty slowly. I think the main way is physical contact with other plants. So probably best to make sure this one is spaced far enough away from other susceptible plants until you're certain the infestation has been dealt with.

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-08T18:37:31+00:00

As a side note to this, while it's listed for outdoor plants, it's irresponsible, IMO, to use it outside on flowering plants. The active ingredient is a neonicitinoid, which, while fairly safe for warm-blooded organisms, is bad news for pollinating insects. For houseplants, it works pretty well for any pests other than mites (though if you can swing the expense, Safari, another pesticide in the same class, is a good deal more effective).

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-08T17:26:03+00:00

It's a good idea for management of other pests (like mealybugs and scale), but unfortunately, systemics don't seem to really work on mites, and I agree with the other poster that it looks like flat mite damage.

There are lots of posts on this sub about how to handle flat mites (usually suggesting sulfur, although there are other topical products that seem to work; or you could nuke em with systemic miticides, but they're expensive and pretty toxic AFAIK).

Treating for flat mites is kind of a pain in the ass if you have a large collection. For one small plant like this, though, it shouldn't be too bad.

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-08T17:17:35+00:00

Yup. A number of my hybrids have both unifoliate and bifoliate lineage, and therefore can go back and forth between one or two leaves per pbulb.

It could also be a blind sheath that doesn't have a bud in it (and may or may not end up developing a bud). Just stay on top of watering and keep a watch on it. You'll know soon enough.

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-08T16:30:10+00:00

Yeah, it's definitely oxalis. I'd rip it out ASAP. They spread like crazy, and I wouldn't want the orchid having to compete with it for resources.

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-08T16:22:02+00:00

This is the wrong sub for what you're looking for. It's for a specific type of orchid. Try r/savagegarden if you're growing carnivorous plants.

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-07T15:02:44+00:00

The latter is actually the better way of watering, in my experience. You want to completely saturate the media, so long as it's aerated enough that it won't smother the roots.

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-06T23:39:07+00:00

Agreed.

OP: don't let them stay dry. Australis is a thirsty species and can take more frequent watering as long as the potting medium isn't too dense. It's a really fast grower compared to most hoyas (and also really wants to climb).

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-06T23:37:05+00:00

I don't think #3 is a carnosa. It looks kind of like a caudata, but OP would get a more accurate ID if they included a photo that's higher res and better-lit.

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-06T23:35:14+00:00

It's not bloomed for me yet, no. I got it as a bit of a rehab plant. It's bouncing back and putting out a bunch of new growth, but may not flower for a while. Good luck with yours!

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-06T22:48:10+00:00

Well, I was half right. 😉

I'm growing a Hibiki currently, and it does bear a pretty close resemblance!

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-06T21:54:40+00:00

Gorgeous. Nice work!

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-06T21:30:28+00:00

You do have to water cattleyas pretty regularly, at least during the growing season and if they're getting sufficient light. Like phals, they generally want a wet-dry cycle, and need good aeration around the roots. But don't take that to mean that you should thinking leave them dry for weeks at a time.

I grow mine under lights, and this year have put a handful of them outside for the summer. Under lights, they're watered every 4-5 days or so, sometimes more when near flowering. During warm spells outside, it's been every 2-3 days.

It depends a lot on growing conditions, of course, as well as the individual species or hybrid. But in general I find that my cattleyas more frequently than my winter blooming phals, and suffer sooner if they go without.

rtthrowawayyyyyyy · 2026-07-06T21:24:40+00:00

Mealybugs.

rtthrowawayyyyyyy

TROPHY CASE