Blooming Cattleya cernua on mount
My Cattleya cernua (also known as Sophronitis cernua) bloomed exactly 4 weeks after the bud first appeared. The spike produced one single flower that is exactly 1" across. The color is a reddish red-orange that is quite accurately represented in the picture above (or at least it is on my monitor). There is no scent.
Closeup of Cattleya cernua flower
My flower bloomed redder than many images I've seen online. I expect that the recent cold temperatures (my orchid shelves are situated next to an always open window) as well as its close proximity to the light source have combined to intensify the red color.
The lip has a bright yellow near the center of the bloom, which fades into an orange-red of the rest of the petals. The tips of the column are intensely purple.
Below, is a series of photographs showing the bud maturation during the past month. I found it interesting how the bud color changed from green, to a nearly black purple, before acquiring the reddish hue of the eventual flower.
Week 0
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Cattleya cernua bud 2 days before opening
Mounted Cattleya cernua in bloom
