Well, it's happened again: an orchid that had only so-so blooms the last
time and thus was a bit of a disappointment, has reflowered stunningly,
surprising me most pleasantly. This has happened to me already a few times,
so that I have to conclude that it's wrong to judge an orchid by just one
blooming season because the next time it could make a totally different
impression.

In this case, the orchid in question is an Lc Tokyo Magic 'Hihimanu' x Slc.
Fire Fantasy 'Hihimanu' (my only cattleya thus far). I got it in October
in-sheath at a show, and when the flowers opened I was a bit disappointed
because I had seen much nicer mini-catts, and the flowers were kind of
shapeless and smaller than I had hoped for and with washed out looking
colors -- nothing special. In hindsight I think the two blooms from that
first sheath probably opened prematurely due to stress related to the move
from greenhouse to show to apartment. When I bought this catt, it had
another sheath that was just beginning to form, and then that sheath looked
empty and dry, but when I pealed it open gently, I discovered a second
sheath inside, and that sheath grew and formed a bud, and when this sheath
turned dry I peeled it off, and the bud grew some more outside the sheath,
and now it's this stunning vibrant bloom with gorgeous lip and splash
petals -- the previous blooms were nothing compared to this. And the plant
is in sheath again on a growth that grew up in my apartment already -- I
recall discovering the tiny new growth, and now it's larger than any of the
previous ones (yay).

I wonder whether in addition to the first blooms probably opening
prematurely and thus being less stunning, could it be that this SLC's blooms
look better if the sheath is peeled off and the bud develops outside of the
sheath? This is the only thing that I did differently from the first time
around, I think -- other than the whole relocating of course.

The other times that an orchid pleasantly surprised me has been due
primarily to the same orchid once more mature having a much more impressive
display, so much so, that a so-so orchid one year can become a wow orchid
the following year. It's wonderful to see them flourish like that.

Joanna