Description
The orchid world and purebred dog world have many, many parallels. Both worlds have obsessive devotees, fun and funny names, long and complicated pedigrees, prizes big and small, beautiful specimens, outrageous prices, lots of politics, and of course, a superabundance of know-it-alls. What these two spheres don’t have in common are mutts. Mutts, as loveable as they are, have little to no standing in the American Kennel Club (est. 1884) purebred world, although in these less restrained latter days there might be a few competitive events in which the AKC grudgingly allows dogs of ‘undocumented’ ancestry to participate. In the orchid world, however, mutts abound and are accepted, respected, and even cherished. These orchids of mixed ancestry are referred to as hybrids, and can be produced by crossing species (or hybrids) within a genus, or even between different genera (i.e., intergeneric hybrid), producing completely novel flower types. And that leads us now to Howeara Lava Burst. This orchid is actually the result of combining three different genera over successive crosses. So, it’s a bit of this, and a dash of that, with a pinch of cute, producing a delightful small orchid that will produce a prolific spray of flower spikes and buds. The variety we’re offering here is the red-hot ‘Puanani’. Yes, the flowers are mildly fragrant, too! This orchid is phenomenally easy to grow, and is perfect for indoor cultivation, or outdoor growth in warmer areas. Its small size makes it perfect for the windowsill. Keep temperatures above 50 deg F, give it bright light (but avoid direct sun), pot in a well-draining mix and water two times per week, fertilize twice a month, and it will erupt with lovely red-orange blossoms for you! PLEASE NOTE: NOT IN BUD/BLOOM WHEN SHIPPED.
