Cattleya Towering Inferno 'Best Red' - Orchid Board

Diane56Victor · #1 04-22-2021, 06:34 PM

I've only has this plant about 6 months.
Just a single bloom but Ive photos of other Towering Inferno plants that look different and have multiple blooms.
Have to say I do like the spotting and cant wait till it opens up properly.

Ive found it in orchid roots as Cattlianthe but without thr 'Best red'

SouthPark · #2 04-22-2021, 06:53 PM

It's opening nicely! Really nice to see the contrasting colours already. The Towering Inferno name is gruesome though - so at least the beautiful flower tones things down a lot hehehe

Leafmite · #3 04-22-2021, 10:27 PM

Pretty! I really love the spots!

Jeff214 · #4 04-23-2021, 10:43 AM

That's a lovely shade of red - interesting to see how the colors develop. That is a funny name - I guess it's going to get quite tall !

camille1585 · #5 04-23-2021, 11:39 AM

What a name! It sure looks like that flower is going to live up to the 'inferno' bit of it once fully opened.

Roberta · #6 04-23-2021, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diane56Victor

I've only has this plant about 6 months.
Just a single bloom but Ive photos of other Towering Inferno plants that look different and have multiple blooms.
Have to say I do like the spotting and cant wait till it opens up properly.

Ive found it in orchid roots as Cattlianthe but without thr 'Best red'

Looking forward to seeing it fully open!

As far as the name goes... The Cattlianthe (as opposed to "Cattleya") comes from the reclassification of C. bowringiana and C. aurantiaca as Guarianthe. The cultivar name "Best Red" is not part of its registered name/pedigree... cultivars are actually not recorded anyplace unless the plant is awarded - a way to designate a specific plant. A hybrid can have a lot of variation among individual plants.

Diane56Victor · #7 04-23-2021, 08:13 PM

Southpark...
I admit to an expectation of scarlet blooms,. This certainly isnt the scarlet I was expecting, more a purple undertone, but I'm happily surprised with what is showing so far.

Leafmite...
Spotted Cattleya are a new passion for me. Just bought a tiny amethystoglossa recently.
Wasnt expecting spots on this one at all, I was very happy when I saw this bloom.

Jeff214...
Its taking its time to open, and seems to close up a bit at night too. It certainly has a tall rangy look about it, and I don't want it to spread outwards any further, so a little control will be in its future after blooming.

camille1585...
I hope so, its looking good so far.

Roberta...
Thank you for the parent names. It seems like it takes after the bowringiana for shape and colour undertones. I read a nice piece from Chadwick and sons website about Cattleya bowringiana called The Autumn Pixie.
I bought it from someone who has a lot of plants, so I expect they haven't changed their all labels.

SouthPark · #8 04-23-2021, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diane56Victor

Southpark...
I admit to an expectation of scarlet blooms,. This certainly isnt the scarlet I was expecting, more a purple undertone, but I'm happily surprised with what is showing so far.

Me too DV! I really like what I see there. I notice on the internet that there are various outcomes from that cross. Some are more reddish/scarlet. Others are purple-magenta. I wouldn't be surprised there is a temperature dependence too on flower colour too.

Also - it's possible that if it really is initially pinky-purple to start with - then maybe the flower can approach darker reddish colours toward the end the bloom time. Beautiful initial opening pic anyway. Such a nice variation.