Potinara Hoku Gem aka Orchid

I really do love orchids, although I'm not a huge collector...yet!  However, I have a few different types that I enjoy.  They remain in my yard, for the most part, until they bloom, when they are paraded inside my home to be gazed upon with great admiration. 

Orchids can be costly, though, so I'm careful to find bargains.  That means they are not in bloom, and may have been neglected for quite some time.  Or perhaps they are very young and will not bloom for many years to come.  Regardless, purchasing bargains may mean I have no idea what the bloom will look like until the plant presents its spectacular show.

I am very proud to announce

the blooming of one of my bargain orchids,

the Potinara Hoku Gem 'Freckles'. 

The blooms are beautiful,

and unlike any other orchid I own.  

I did a bit of research

to find out about the Potinara. 

Wikipedia says, "Potinara, abbreviated Pot in the horticultural trade,[1] is the nothogenus comprising those intergeneric hybrids of orchids which have Brassavola, Cattleya, Laelia and Sophronitis as parent genera."  Additionally, Wikipedia also informs their readers that this variety has been renamed by officials and is now known as Brassocattleya Hoku Gem.

OK...this is why

I'm not serious about orchids...

I just like them, think they're pretty

and grow them for my own enjoyment.

In layman's terms,

the Hoku Gem is a mini cattleya orchid. 

It is named 'Freckles' for the obvious

purplish-red speckles on the petals. 

I was hoping for a lovely fragrance,

but mine is not sporting a scent.  

The blooms begin with a pretty

reddish-orange color, similar to a tropical sunset,

and mature into a orange-yellow shade.  

The leaves are thick and strappy

with a pretty, green color.  

These leaves look a bit on the dark side

in my opinion as cattleya leaves are generally

a lighter, brighter green. 

I may not be providing it with enough light. 

Cattleyas and their relatives typically like

more light and can tolerate some morning sun.    

Each flower stalk originates from a pseudobulb.   

Once the blooms have dropped,

I'll cut the stalk to the base

and wait for the next bloom period!

Oh...one more wonderful factoid.

I found this particular variety

for sale on the Internet for $25. 

I think I paid $3. 

My blooms just got prettier!!! 

I'm submitting this post to Noel's monthly

 "HOT! LOUD! and PROUD!" meme at

A Plant Fanatic in Hawaii. 

Be sure to check out other HOT! LOUD! and PROUD! posts!