Regarding growers (and others) dumbing down because they think the
public would be deterred by a complicated name, I couldn`t agree more.
Still, why should this only be the case with orchids, when something
like acer palmatum dissectum atropurpureum doesn`t deter them?
However, most ordinary punters just want a pretty plant and don`t
really care what it is or how to care for it properly. Which, for the
growers and garden centres, is a good thing. This happens not just
with orchids, of course, but with shrubs and perennials for the garden.
People remain defiantly ignorant and if the plant dies, well, it`s not
my fault for, say, planting an azalea in calcareous soil! The times
people have complained to me about such-and-such a plant not doing what
they wanted. "Did you read the label?" I ask. The answer is usually a
sheepish "No." Still, in this particular case, I did read the label
and it told me nothing. Fortunately, I have books on orchids and with
access to the `net was able to research its *general* requirements. I
would hope that an orchid grown specifically for the garden centre
market for sale as a house plant should be fairly robust and not too
picky in what it needs to thrive.

I will try and post a pic on the binary NG, but I don`t really mind not
knowing exactly what variety of cattleya it is, as long as I can keep
it growing well. In common with most garden centre shoppers, I bought
it because, firstly, it was pretty; secondly, it was fragrant;
thirdly, I could give it the right conditions; and lastly, it was not
too expensive. Even when I used to buy orchids from a specialist
grower, I used the same criteria, although, then, quite often the pot
was quickly returned to the bench when it came to the last
consideration!

Kate

"Gene Schurg" wrote in message
...
Kate,

You have purchased a plant that those of us who grow orchids
seriously
(and kill them just as seriously) really hate. The Cattleya Sans Nom
v.
"Crap I dont know" also know as Cattleya Noname or Cattleya Home
Depot.
We all have different names for them.

Some growers think that the public can't handle the real name for a
plant and are confused when they see the fully qualified name of an
orchid. So to dumb it down for the general public they put a generic
tag on the plant such as the one you have found. Some go so far as
to
remove the tag all together because "the public thinks they are
ugly".

This creates a problem like the one you have now. All we know is
that
you have a Cattleya orchid plant. That narrows it down to about
1/10th
of the possible orchids you could have. Beyond that without the
hybrid
name we can't research the parentage and tell you such things as when
it
is expected to bloom, whether it needs really high light or moderate
light, when to repot it (or when not to repot), possible times for a
rest period, etc.

If you are really really lucky and can take a picture and post it on
alt.binaries.pictures.orchids there is a small chance that someone
else
is growing that same plant and knows the name (or can get you close
to
it). Some of our really good Cattleya folks can look at a flower and
tell you some of the parents. I usually can only recognize
walkeriana
hybrids because of their big nose (that's what I see when I see
them).

Good Growing,
Gene


In article ,
"Kate" wrote:

As it was from a garden centre, all that was on the label was
"Cattleya". Maybe the breeders just give them names like "Cattleya
v.
Garden Centre Strain A". The flowers are very dainty and prettily
coloured in pale pinks and off-white. The lip is edged in dark pink
with a deep yellow throat that has dark pink spots in it.

Kate

"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
. ..

Kate, what is the name of the Cattleya? Do you know?

Diana

"Kate" wrote in message
...
When visiting an orchid nursery a while back, I smelt this lovely
fragrance. Following the olfactory trail, we found a cattleya.
It
was a very small plant but it had a single, huge, bright pink
flower. I looked to see the variety and the label read "Dave`s.
Not
for sale" Seems an odd name for a plant...

I suspect that my cattleya is some hybrid developed in Holland so
doubt that I would be able to trace its parentage. As I said
earlier, it did have a smell last year. The flowers are quite
small
but with four out (and seven to go), you`d think there would be
something. If the weather is good tomorrow, I will try putting
it
outside in a sunny, sheltered spot to see if I can get a reading
on
the sniffometer.

Kate