Cattleya lueddemanniana ‘luz de luna’

[monocotman]

I posted a photo last April of the first time this plant flowered. It was probably the first catt that flowered under the new setup and lights.
Since then I’ve repotted it and split it into two. Both divisions produced a smaller non flowering growth in the summer and a good set of roots. Now both have a new large growth and the more forward division is in bloom. The flowers are much better than last April.
Who doesn’t like a good lueddemanniana? They’re one of the smaller growers, this one has produced two 14cm x 16 cm flowers on a growth just 25cm high.
They have the darkest rubra colours in all of the unifoliates as well as some stunning coeruleas. Plus the scent is terrific.
This clone is very vigorous. Under my conditions it appears that they all grow at least two leads a year.
David

 

[monocotman]

A slightly different view.

 

[dodidoki]

It is fantastic flower, David! Isn it a concolor form?

 

[monocotman]

It came labelled as a concolor but it’s not a label I’m confident in using so I leave it off.
It‘s one from Max that came correctly labelled!
I‘m very happy with it. It’s probably from South American breeding.

 

[GuRu]

.....Who doesn’t like a good lueddemanniana? .....

Yep, she's really lovely .... good shape and proportions and flower stance.

 

[terryros]

Leslie’s description of a concolor lueddemanniana back in 2021 when you had another postal said that the base color of the lip needed to be the color of the petals, but there could be yellow, but no other red/purple/magenta on the lips - no anthocyanin. That would make this one not a concolor.

 

[monocotman]

Indeed Terry, that’s what I thought. It did have a label as a concolor when I bought it. This description seems to be applied to many pale flowered forms of species whether or not they conform strictly to the form.

 

[Ozpaph]

I wouldnt call it a concolor BUT would call it very desirable!

 

[NEslipper]

Spectacular flowering, it must smell wonderful. Congrats!

 

[DrLeslieEe]

Under general color category, this is usually considered a concolor by vendors and collectors. But for true technical definition of no red in throat, it isn’t. There are lueddie concolors with no red out there.

 

[monocotman]

Thanks for your thoughts Leslie. Whatever its official category, I love it. The plant is only really just getting going.

 

[monocotman]

The second division has just bloomed. You do get a lot of bang for your buck with this species. On a growth that is just 10 inches (25cm) tall, there are two large flowers, 5.5 inches (14cm) across with a terrific scent.
First photo is under the LEDs, the second in natural light.

 

[GuRu]

David, these flowers are as excellent as the ones of the first division.

 

[monocotman]

Guru, it’s probably a slightly larger bloom than the first one. I love this clone. Whether it will be even bigger on a large plant we will have to wait and see. It’s probably line bred for at least one generation.

 

[terryros]

David, I think the color produced by your LEDs is a nice mid-white and at the height you have them, you are getting diffuse lighting, good for pictures.

 

[Ozpaph]

love it more it time i see it.

 

[monocotman]

Terry, the LEDs are quite powerful. Even at 75% the growth and flowering is good. I turned it down from 100% as a few plants were starting to bleach. A single laelia purpurata, a mossiae, a laelia tenebrosa. Other purpuratas and mossiaes are fine and all plants have good roots, so it’s probably down to the reaction of individual clones. Everything else is fine.
We’ll see how 75% goes for now. It’s cheaper to run!
Ozpaph, it’s a spectacular clone. I’m with you on this one.

 

[terryros]

Terry, the LEDs are quite powerful. Even at 75% the growth and flowering is good. I turned it down from 100% as a few plants were starting to bleach. A single laelia purpurata, a mossiae, a laelia tenebrosa. Other purpuratas and mossiaes are fine and all plants have good roots, so it’s probably down to the reaction of individual clones. Everything else is fine.
We’ll see how 75% goes for now. It’s cheaper to run!
Ozpaph, it’s a spectacular clone. I’m with you on this one.

I wish I could beam you my Apogee meter so I could know what your peak photon flux density is right now!