Compact catts question

[withoutid]

I 'm very interested in compact catts, especially these guys:
1. C. Bow Bells 'Alii' AM/AOS' (C. Edithiae x C. Suzanne Hye).
2. Blc. Chan Hsiu Gold 'Fuji'
(Blc. Chunyeah x Blc. Memoria Ong Wen-Mo).
It looks like they're only available from Norman's Orchids. I learn from the forum that this is not a good vendor. Is there any online vendors offering these catts? I couldn't find them at Carter & Holmes, Orchid Limited, Sunset Valley Orchids, Hausermann.
Other compact catts with similar flower size/color are also welcome. Thank you.

[tucker85]

I tend to like the compact cattleyas also. Unfortunately a lot of web-sites don't tell you if a plant is compact or standard. In fact, I didn't know that C. Bow Bells is compact.

I don't know where else you can find those specific plants but I've had good luck with Norman's over the years. I've actually bought quite a few plants from them. I'm not sure why people don't like them. Maybe you could try buying one plant from them and see what your experience is.

---------- Post added at 08:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:23 AM ----------

I looked at Norman's web-site and I have a couple of comments. First, they describe Blc. Chan Hsiu Gold 'Fuji' as 16"-18" tall. If that description is correct, I would consider that a standard size cattleya. Compact cattleyas are usually around 12" tall. Secondly, the C. Bow Bells 'Alii' that Norman's is offering for sale, is a division from Raymond Burr's personal orchid collection and it's very expensive. They both look like very nice orchids, though.

[withoutid]

Can you suggest me some other compact plant with similar flower color as well? Thank you

[silken]

I was wondering how compact they are as well. Bow Bells has a 25% trianae in it. My trianae is huge and rather sprawling. My young Mossiae is not real compact either. There is 37% mossiae in it. Don't know about its other parentage gaskelliana.

[tucker85]

I can only tell you about the orchids that I personally own. There are a lot new compact and mini-catts available these days from places like Marble Branch Farms, Gold Country Orchids and Sunset Valley Orchids. I recommend buying blooming size plants, not little seedlings that can take years to bloom.
Blc. Memoria Anna Balmores 'Convex' is about 12" tall with nice large, fragrant blooms. I've had this a few years and I really like it. It's available from lots of vendors.



---------- Post added at 12:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:55 PM ----------

Rlc. Lisa Taylor Gallis 'Nora' is a small plant with a large flower that looks even nicer in real life than in a picture. I really like it. I bought mine from Marble Branch Farms about a year ago. Mines mounted but I think it would be better in a pot or basket.



---------- Post added at 01:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:59 PM ----------

Pot. Susan Fender 'Cinnamon Stick' is a wonderful orchid that gets about 12" tall and has big beautiful flowers.



---------- Post added at 01:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:01 PM ----------

Pot. Hawaiian Prominence 'America' is only about 8" tall but it has 4" flowers that are very dark and unusual. It's available from Carmela's Orchids. They have a lot of nice orchids.

[silken]

Tucker85, you sure have lots of lovely smaller Catts! I have a few as well and have some ordered a few from Sunset Valley Orchids, as he is coming to Canada. Also Ching Hua from Taiwan sells a lot of compact Catts and they are at lots of orchid shows throughout North America. A number of my Cattleyas have come from them. Sometimes my idea of bloom size is not theirs but that's not always the case and the price is certainly reasonable.

[tucker85]

I don't have a picture but Blc. Fritz Nickolaus 'Spring Dance' is a really nice, fragrant purple that's about 12" tall with big flowers. Kawamoto has them available.

[Brooke]

C. Bow Bells is definitely not a compact plant. Not only is it tall but his growth habit tends to grow out away from the next pbulb instead of straight up.


C Bow Bells LUR_5546 by kentucky4, on Flickr

Google MiniCatts (sorry I forget his nursery name). His name is Peter Lin, he is in California and specializes in mini catts. Also Sunset Valley orchids also specializes in them.

If you are interested in a species Catt that is small growing, intermedia remains quite small.

Brooke

[silken]

is it Big Leaf Orchids? I thought Peter Lin was more into Phals.

[GardenTheater]

Originally Posted by silken

is it Big Leaf Orchids? I thought Peter Lin was more into Phals.

To make it "interesting", there are two Peter Lins who grow orchids. Diamond Orchids is the name site with mini-catts.