Rhyncholaelia glauca

This species is also know as the Glaucous Beaked Laelia and is found growing in Guatemala and Mexico. Rhyncholaelia glauca grows on trees in mountain forests from near sea level to 1500 meters. The original plants were discovered growing near Veracruz, Mexico.
Plants are medium-sized and look a lot like unifoliate Cattleya orchids. This species was thought to be a Cattleya species until it flowered when it was first imported to England.

Flower grow to 5 inches (12 cm) wide. The flower of Rhyncholaelia glauca has apple green petals and a white, heart-shaped lip. The margin of the lip is complete, not heavily fringed like Rhyncholaelia digbyana. Occasionally, some flowers will have a pink cast. Flowers are very fragrant and have a sweet scent. Flowers have a heavy waxy substance and are long-lived. Blooms in late Spring to Summer.

Provide warm or intermediate growing temperatures. This plant grows best mounted on cork bark, tree fern plaques, or slatted baskets. Provide high light and good air circulation. The roots need to dry between watering. Few hybrids have been made using this species.

The New Encyclopedia of Orchids: 1500 Species in Cultivation

Book Review: The New Encyclopedia of Orchids: 1500 Species in Cultivation
By: Isobyl la Croix

I read about this book in the Kansas City Start newspaper a few days ago. It seems to be the best new orchid book written in a generation!

This book is the ultimate reference guide for the orchid hobbyist! 1500 orchid species are profiled in this authoritative, detailed, and carefully researched encyclopedia. Infinitely varied and hugely interesting, these strikingly beautiful plants are sumptuously illustrated with over 1000 photographs in a reference that no orchid lover can afford to be without. Isobyl la Croix is a scientist, plant hunter, and horticulturalist; her deep passion for orchids informs the plant selection and adds depth to the plant descriptions. The cultivation advice includes information about the orchid's native habitat—including elevation, geography, and climate. Recent developments in DNA analysis have led to some surprising findings with regard to the relationships between orchids, and the author has undertaken an extensive effort to bring all orchid names up-to-date to reflect the latest scientific thinking and taxonomy. From Acampe to Zygostates, no other serious reference approaches the depth and authority of this remarkable book.

The author is the editor of the prestigious journal The Orchid Review.

Schomburgkia crispa

Schomburgkia crispa is also known as the Curled Schomburgkia.

Schomburgkia crispa is found growing high up in trees where it received nearly full sunlight and breezes throughout the day. Schomburgkia crispa is found growing in Venezuela, Surinam, Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador.

Plants are large. The elongated pseudobulbs of Schomburgkia crispa are topped with 2 or 3 leathery leaves.

Schomburgkia crispa has beautiful, medium-sized glossy maroon flowers with heavily undulated petals. The lip is narrow and lighter in color with a yellow triangular blotch near the tip. Many flowers are clustered at the end of a very tall erect or arching flower spike. Blooms in summer and fall.

Schomburgkia crispa was the first species of Schomburgkia to be described and is the type species for the genus. Schomburgkia crispa grows best mounted on a strudy hardwood mount or in large slotted baskets. Provide as much light as possible; schomburgkia's require more light than most cattleya orchids to flower. Provide intermediate to warm growing temperatures.

For more information:

• Cattleya Orchid Source
• Cattleya Source Wiki

Sophronitis coccinea

This species is also known as the Scarlet Sophronitis and is a miniature orchid species.

Sophronitis coccinea is native to mountainous forests in the Serra do Mar mountain range near the coast in Brazil. The plants are found growing between 700 to 1800 meters in elevation. It grows on moss-covered trees and rocks in protected locations. There is constant fog and high humidity in their habitat and the plants are well-adapted to constant moisture.

Sophronitis coccinea has compact, tightly clustered pseudobulbs that have a single leaf that grows to 2.5 inches long.

Flowera are 1.5 to 3 inches (3-7 cm) across.  The flowers of Sophronitis coccinea have intense orange-red flowers. The flower stem is short and produces a single flower which is long-lived. Flowers do not have a fragrance.  Blooms in Spring or Fall.

Grow in cool to intermediate orchid growing conditions. Summer temperatures rarely exceed 80 degrees F in the summer in its native habitat. Winter temperatures hover around 45 degrees F.

 Sophronitis coccinea has been widely used in hybridizing to bring the bright flower color and small plant size to Cattleya hybrids.

Cattleya dowiana

Dow's Cattleya was named in honor of Captain Dow, an American ship captain who lived in the nineteenth century. Cattleya dowiana has an incredibly showy flower and has been used by breeders to make some important and beautiful hybrids. There is a great deal of similarity between this species and Cattleya aurea.

Cattleya dowiana is native to Costa Rica, Panama. Cattleya dowiana grows on the Caribbean coast and can be found growing between 250 and 2500 meters in elevation. Cattleya dowiana's preferred habitat is mature tree crowns high off the ground.

This is a medium-sized unifoliate orchid. Pseudobulbs of Cattleya dowiana grow 3 1/4 inches to 8 inches (8-20 cm) tall and are partially hidden by papery basal sheaths when young. A single light green, fleshy leaf grows at the top of the pseudobulb.

Cattleya dowiana is fragrant and very showy. This species is best known for its yellow coloration and very dramatic lip. The petals and sepal are a coppery-yellow. The lip is dark wine red and very intricately veined with gold. The flower stem is 5 inches (12.5 cm) long. The flower spike will have anywhere from one to six flowers. Unfortunately, the flowers are short-lived.  Flowers are 5 inches (15 cm) wide and it blooms in the summer and fall.

Provide warm to hot growing conditions.  This orchid really appreciates a warm place in the greenhouse with extra humidity and good air circulation.

Cattleya dormaniana

This species is also known as Dorman's Cattleya and is native to the jungles of Brazil. Cattleya dormaniana is found growing Organ Mountains in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro thriving at moderate elevation in humid conditions.

Cattleya dormaniana is a medium-sized bifoliate Cattleya and has slender, cane-like pseudobulbs with two narrow leaves on top.

Flowers grow to 3 inch (8 cm) and are fragrant. The richly colored bronze flowers of Cattleya dormaniana are pleasantly accented with a ruby or magenta lip. Only one or two flowers are produced by each growth.  Blooms in autumn.

Provide intermediate to warm orchid growing temperatures for best results. In its native environment, summer days average 82-84 F (28-29 C), and nights average 71-72 F (22 C), with a diurnal range of 11-12 F (6-7 C). Winter days in its habitat average 77-79 F (25-26 C), and nights average 64-65 F (17-19 C), with a diurnal range of 9-11 F (5-6 C).

Provide average to bright Cattleya light. Provide 80-85 percent humidity for most of the year. Its acceptable for summer humidity to drop into the 75-80 percent range. Cattleya dormaniana should be watered regularly throughout the year, but they must dry rapidly after watering. Make sure that the plants never stay dry for long periods of time, however. Divide, repot, or remount only when new root growth is just starting. This lets the plant become established in the shortest possible time with the greatest success. Easy to grow.