Sophronitis cernua 'Kasei' (火星)

[isurus79]

Great shape on that one!

[FranningtonBear]

Absolutely gorgeous. I am a sucker for the peachy/orange tones

[alecStewart1]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Great shape on that one!

Since you're an AOS judge, isurus, do you have an idea as to how growers create cultivars of the same species with different flower shape?

I imagine it's a lot of sibling crossing, selfing and line breeding.

---------- Post added at 10:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:38 AM ----------

Originally Posted by FranningtonBear

Absolutely gorgeous. I am a sucker for the peachy/orange tones

The redish orange is a nice pop. Come spring I'll get a bigger pot and hopefully more bulbs push out more flowers come next year.

I'm not the biggest Catt fan as I don't care that much for the frilly look a lot of Catts have, but this little guy and the Sophronitis group speak to me more.

[Blueszz]

Originally Posted by alecStewart1

Thought I'd try selfing it, so I got a tiny brush and got deep in the open flowers to see if I could make anything happen. With my luck probably nothing will happen, or the seeds produced will be duds, but might has well try.

If you want optimal growth, I wouldn't pollinate as developing a seed pod and seeds, takes a lot of energy from the plant. Energy that it also can use to for new growths. At least, that is what I was thought when I was a decade younger.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by alecStewart1

Since you're an AOS judge, isurus, do you have an idea as to how growers create cultivars of the same species with different flower shape?

I imagine it's a lot of sibling crossing, selfing and line breeding.

Yes, if I understand the question correctly, it’s mostly about line breeding! However, increasing ploidy helps, as with your plant. Also, some species naturally have awards quality flowers growing in the wild. For example Cattleya lueddemanniana are known for this and I personally saw several Cattleya nobilior var. amaliae that were award worthy when I was in Brazil recently. So starting a breeding line with top quality wild plants can help too.

[alecStewart1]

Originally Posted by Blueszz

If you want optimal growth, I wouldn't pollinate as developing a seed pod and seeds, takes a lot of energy from the plant. Energy that it also can use to for new growths. At least, that is what I was thought when I was a decade younger.

Well there's a good chance that I was unsuccessful with my efforts so there's that.

---------- Post added at 06:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:30 PM ----------

Originally Posted by isurus79

Yes, if I understand the question correctly, it’s mostly about line breeding! However, increasing ploidy helps, as with your plant. Also, some species naturally have awards quality flowers growing in the wild. For example Cattleya lueddemanniana are known for trust and I personally saw several Cattleya nobilior var. amaliae that were award worthy when I was in Brazil recently. So starting a breeding line with top quality wild plants can help too.

Makes sense. Thanks for the answer!