Fiery red, round, silver-dollar size blossoms emerging from spikes, create a vivid contrast with its yellow throat. The crossing of two Ctna. Why Not's have produced uniform progeny with almost identical blossoms that one might think they were clones. One significant factor that may account for this is, Ctna. Why Not is a primary -- a crossing of Broughtonia sanguinea and Cattleya aurantiaca -- drawing its genetic background from only two species. Another factor may be their parents have been inbred, adding to their genetic similarity.

Ctna. Why Not's popularity has been consistent through the years and it seems to be related to a number of unrelated elements that altogether create a wonderful pot plant and collectable orchid.

Ctna. Why Not is not one of your standard "classical beauties" with the large full petals and showy, frilly lip. Their attraction seems to be the intense, near primary red hue, contrasted with a bright yellow throat. The Ctna. Why Not's red is especially appropriate for the spirit of Christmas, New Years and Valentine's Day. The flowers are well presented on spikes above the foliage and can number more that 10 per spike. The number of spikes increases with maturity, creating a beautiful show.

The plants' new growths grow in close alignment with the previous, with a tendency to produce multiple leads. Thus the plants stay compact for many seasons in the same container.

One breeder told me he doesn't breed with Ctna. Why Not because of the black tips and spots that seem related to its genes. The occasional black marks on the foliage is quite common. What we are noticing is, as the plants become more mature they seem to have less and less spotting. We have never seen a plant perish from the spots so it's more of a cosmetic imperfection. But despite this genetic imperfection, the Ctna. Why Not continues in popularity.

One reason may be their continuous bloom cycle. On each new lead of a mature plant, a spike generally emerges. So having a bench full of Ctna. Why Not means almost constantly blooming plants, throughout most of the year.

For the pot plant orchid grower, Ctna. Why Not also offers a wider window for shipment than most Cattleya Alliance. Since they form a spike, and then buds, they can be shipped in spike, in bud, and even in flower -- the window is larger than three weeks.

Above all Ctna. Why Not is simply a plant that gets better over the years. It's one of those orchids where even a collector could have more than one, and still not mind adding another. It's doesn't eat up a lot of space, and rewards its owner with a bounty of blooms throughout the year.