Cattleya (Sophronitis) coccinea dreams coming true

[BrucherT]

I’ve wanted to succeed with this plant for so long. I had given up ever managing it. They always died on me. In 2017, I could not resist trying again with a seedling from Hausermann’s open house. I mean, it was like $4 with the open house discount. Teeny tiny tuft of just-deflasked nothings. I just figured I’d gamble once again. I stuck it into my slipper terrarium situation, as you can see in the photos. The temps get into the 40sF in winter and 90sF in summer. I water about every 5-7 days, RO/K-lite. Leslie’s photos of his surprise Sophronitis buds made me check mine. It seems to have two leads and matures 3 growths per year and… oh my god, there’s a frickin’ BUD. I’m in shock. I’ve never even seen one blooming in person. I’ve never repotted this tiny thing from its original couple bits of bark and there’s LECA in it too. I wasn’t sure what size it needed to be to bloom, scale is always tough to gauge in photos, and most of the blooming plants appear bigger than mine. I’m just so excited to see this; I was craving Cattleya last year; turns out, I had one all along!

 

[DrLeslieEe]

OmGosh, congrats!!!!

 

[BrucherT]

OmGosh, congrats!!!!

Thank you thank you! I have no idea what I did right. Did the tiny flaskling just magically adapt to true conditions I gave it? Did I get lucky with a tolerant phenotype? I am just shocked. I ooze with envy at your collection, especially your cool tank. There is just nothing like a Sophronitis flower. Hausermann’s had 4N seedlings when I was there last month. I didn’t pounce. Now I’ll be trying for more! Such a tiny plant with such a huge reward. In my mind, your surprise led directly to mine. Now let’s see if she opens….

 

[DrLeslieEe]

It’s like a proxy message was sent out over the comms to let all coccinea bloom in sync on ST! Everyone go check your babies! They might be in bud!!!

And such a tiny weenie to make a grown (wo)man cry too!!

 

[abax]

Wonderful!!!! Don't you just love good surprises??? WOOHOO!!!!!!!!

 

[BrucherT]

It’s like a proxy message was sent out over the comms to let all coccinea bloom in sync on ST! Everyone go check your babies! They might be in bud!!!

And such a tiny weenie to make a grown (wo)man cry too!!

LOL that’s honestly how it feels in here sometimes! It was helenae season, it was lowii season..,I have 3 really nice purpuratum will be fully open this week so maybe I can get those going too!

 

[DrLeslieEe]

LOL that’s honestly how it feels in here sometimes! It was helenae season, it was lowii season..,I have 3 really nice purpuratum will be fully open this week so maybe I can get those going too!

Yes stir my purpuratums up! Only one in 15 spiked and bloomed. The others need a kickstart lol.

 

[BrucherT]

Yes stir my purpuratums up! Only one in 15 spiked and bloomed. The others need a kickstart lol.

Omg you have 15???? Tell me more!!!!! Report is good initial germination on my half-alba self pod… I think purpuratum likes a chill in early fall. I leave the windows open wide as late as possible. One of my 5 didn’t spike this year, I think due to scale over the summer.

 

[DrLeslieEe]

Omg you have 15???? Tell me more!!!!! Report is good initial germination on my half-alba self pod… I think purpuratum likes a chill in early fall. I leave the windows open wide as late as possible. One of my 5 didn’t spike this year, I think due to scale over the summer.

Yes 15 or maybe more lol. I got a batch of NBS from Sam of the half half album breeding.

I do have them by the cold open window so let’s see!

 

[Linus_Cello]

I do have them by the cold open window so let’s see!

How cold do your sophro. get? Why not put them with the bublo octopus flower-wine fridge?

 

[GuRu]

Sometimes one needs such a nice surprise, Brucher. Good luck !

It’s like a proxy message was sent out over the comms to let all coccinea bloom in sync on ST! Everyone go check your babies! They might be in bud!!!..............

This said.......the magical LeslieEe !

 

[tomp]

It’s like a proxy message was sent out over the comms to let all coccinea bloom in sync on ST! Everyone go check your babies! They might be in bud!!!

And such a tiny weenie to make a grown (wo)man cry too!!

I too am happy that my coccinea got the message:

 

[DrLeslieEe]

How cold do your sophro. get? Why not put them with the bublo octopus flower-wine fridge?

My cold wine tank has 10-12C nights and 22C days all year.

The 15 purps are too big to grow in that small wine tank lol, so they stay by cold window.

 

[DrLeslieEe]

I too am happy that my coccinea got the message:
View attachment 31122 View attachment 31123

A beauty Tom!!

 

[NYEric]

Nice.

 

[BrucherT]

I too am happy that my coccinea got the message:
View attachment 31122 View attachment 31123

I will be so happy if mine is half this nice! Yours is regular ploidy like mine?

 

[GuRu]

A beauty Tom!!

Indeed it is !

 

[tomp]

I will be so happy if mine is half this nice! Yours is regular ploidy like mine?

Yes it is a standard. I believe it is a sib cross I got from QF.

 

[cnycharles]

Congrats and
Woah; my screen is in flames from the color

 

[Karp60]

I’ve wanted to succeed with this plant for so long. I had given up ever managing it. They always died on me. In 2017, I could not resist trying again with a seedling from Hausermann’s open house. I mean, it was like $4 with the open house discount. Teeny tiny tuft of just-deflasked nothings. I just figured I’d gamble once again. I stuck it into my slipper terrarium situation, as you can see in the photos. The temps get into the 40sF in winter and 90sF in summer. I water about every 5-7 days, RO/K-lite. Leslie’s photos of his surprise Sophronitis buds made me check mine. It seems to have two leads and matures 3 growths per year and… oh my god, there’s a frickin’ BUD. I’m in shock. I’ve never even seen one blooming in person. I’ve never repotted this tiny thing from its original couple bits of bark and there’s LECA in it too. I wasn’t sure what size it needed to be to bloom, scale is always tough to gauge in photos, and most of the blooming plants appear bigger than mine. I’m just so excited to see this; I was craving Cattleya last year; turns out, I had one all along!

Perseverance paid off.