Encyclia cordigera 'Dragon'

[John M]

I got this plant way back in the 80's from Alan Salzman in Rochester, N.Y. He brought it to the Toronto show as an exhibit plant. However, I went crazy for it and bought it from him before he had time to put it in his display.

It's been through thick and thin with me. Now, once again, it's on a come-back and is reclaiming it's former glory. There were many years where I was not very attentive and it suffered.....and it did not bloom. But, it's done well since the freeze of '08 and it put on a good show this year for me. Although, the colour isn't as vibrant as I've seen it in the past. I need to investigate what this species needs to boost the colour. It's getting very high light right now and I'm wondering if I should've given it more shade soon after the flowers opened.

 

[Lanmark]

It's wonderful, and it's definitely a keeper! :clap:

 

[emydura]

That is just stunning John. I can see why you snatched it.

 

[paphioboy]

Beautiful!! The petals look very dark... Good save!

 

[Shiva]

It must smell wonderful in your greenhouse by now.

 

[Hera]

Nice blooming and the plant looks very healthy.

 

[Gcroz]

Lovely. E. cordigera has one of my favorite fragrances!:clap:

 

[TyroneGenade]

I've seen several of these at my club meetings but never have I seen a clone with as rich color as yours. It is a marvelous specimen!

 

[NYEric]

However, I went crazy for it and bought it from him before he had time to put it in his display.

Wow! And they say I have it bad!
thanks for sharing.

 

[Erythrone]

what a nice plant!!!!!!!!!!!!1

 

[W. Beetus]

Very interesting! I like the color .

 

[fbrem]

Nice, I love this species. Fantastic fragrance too.

 

[tenman]

Yes, the color is terrible; send it to me!

 

[KyushuCalanthe]

Wonderful. I agree, if this year it has poor color, I'd like to see it when it's in full form!

 

[Rick]

Foliage looks excelent, and the color is a good as I've seen on any other.

But I've seen a lot with rather pinched or folded lips, and this is about the flatest lip I've seen in this species.

Wonderful:clap:

 

[SlipperFan]

Lovely. Great color!

 

[JeanLux]

That's a Great show John :clap: !!!! Envy here !!! Jean

 

[John M]

Thank you for all your nice comments everyone. It does smell wonderful! The colour is a little bit washed out. I think the high light has faded it a bit. This clone is so brightly and intensely coloured that even when a bit washed out, it's still pretty darned good; but, when I saw Alan Salzman walk into the building with it in his show box, way back in the 80's, my eyes were immediately drawn to it and I crossed the room in a flash to try and convince him that he should sell it to me. To my utter surprise and delight, he agreed! Until now, I hadn't fully appreciated how exceptionally flat and full the lip is on this clone. Sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees. I've always been so fixated on the colour, I missed that it had better than normal form too. I've never used it in breeding. I'm going to self it tomorrow and cross it with pollen from a nice Cattleya Lawre-Mossiae var. coerulea.

 

[Yoyo_Jo]

That's a terrific plant you've got there John! A definite eye-catcher.

 

[Stone]

Wow! John, thats a special plant and well grown. Congrats!