Synopsis of Suzi Porter's program on "Mini-Catts" at 1/12/97 AAOS
meeting. Mini-catts are relatively small-sized, compact growing species
or interspecific or intergeneric hybrids of species that are members of
the Cattleya Alliance. Hybrid mini-catts don't necessarily have to have
any Cattleya species in their ancestry! Appreciation for these plants
has grown substantially during the last 25 years because they're usually
more easily grown and bloomed under non-greenhouse conditions than the
larger, rangier species and hybrids within this alliance. They are
especially well suited for hobbyist culture under lights or at
windowsills and also can be put outside in summer.
Suzi reviewed the various species, general cultural requirements, and
the hybrids that have been used in producing the better-known
mini-catts. Most of these bloom as small or moderate-sized plants:
Cattleya aclandiae, C. forbesii, C. luteola, and Suzi's favorite, C.
walkeriana (includes C. nobilior), C. intermedia var. aquinii; Laelia
milleri, L. cinnabarina, L. anceps, L. pumila (various forms), L.
sincorana, L. briegeri, L. lucasiana, and L. tenebrosa; Sophronitis
coccinea, S. acuensis, S. brevipedunculata, S. cernua, S. wittigiana,
Brassavola nodosa, B. glauca, B. digbyana; Broughtonia sanguinea, B.
negrilensis; Diacrum bicornutum; and various species of Epidendrum and
Encyclia. Some mini-catts produce surprising large flowers for such
small plants and may bloom two or three times a year under optimum
growing conditions. Some are also especially fragrant.
Excellent slides, including many AOS award slides, showed the forms and
colors of various parent species as well as the impressive and colorful
variety of interspecific and intergeneric hybrids that have been
produced from these plants. The greater "mix" or breadth of genetic
material that many hybrids--especially the really complex
intergenerics--contain also means that these tend to adapt more readily
to a greater variety of growing conditions than would the parental
forms. About 75 people attended Suzi's talk, and many members and guests
left the January meeting with at least one new mini-catt to add to their
growing collections at home.
--Neal Foster