Too much fun in the sun?

[bemarine]

My Catts face the sunrise for about 3 hours before they are covered by good shade. I am worried because some leaves are getting wrinkly and one of my smaller catts has a yellow leaf now. I cant seem to make the bulbs on the smallest ones nice and plump like my big Catt.

The pics are of my two small ones and one is in bloom. The one with the yellow leaf had really bad roots from over watering. Im wondering if its going to make it.

Too much light???

Any comments are appreciated!

[solay]

Could also be a water or root issue. I noticed I had wrinkled leaves on the Catts. that had bad roots which means less water getting to the plant.

[trinigirl]

Looks like the catts are not getting enough water.

You could try soaking the pots in water for maybe 10 minutes each time you water. That would be once a week for potted plants in plastic pots in Houston. Are they potted in bark? fine bark or large?

I have many issues with my catts in Houston. Still trying to figure them out. Most of my catts are mounted this year, few in pots. I learned from the Houston orchid society that most of the members do not use bark, lots of members just put them in clay pots without any media.

I believe pbulbs do firm up with enough moisture, I must've read somewhere.

Good luck!

[trinigirl]

Also, about the sun. Maybe too much, that's why the leaves are more yellow than just light color. Try maybe less sun also.

[solay]

The Catts. I have can take a lot of light but if too much they burn and doesn't turn all yellow. Usually that happens when the older leaves dies and fall off.

Maybe you can try less direct sunlight if you think that's the problem. I keep mine under 50% shade and when it's very hot and sunny I use 75% shade cloth. Seems they like it.

[bemarine]

What do you mean no media? ??Right now I use bark, sponge rock, charcoal mix.

[bemarine]

The one in bloom is the one with the wrinkly leaves. This had a bad root system when I bought it. After cutting the mushy ones off, there was hardly anything left. Will it make it? Suprisingly the blooms are still holding on, been a month now!

[trinigirl]

By no media I mean that the plant is just sitting in the pot, usually clay pot.

I think the plant will make it. You could try spag and bag when it stops blooming. I've tried spag and bag, but it has never worked. Right now, I just put the catts in a basket or mount with spag and roots eventually form. Humidity levels in Houston help it.

[exasperatus2002]

I've heard of people growing Catt's like Vandas as well but I dont like to, to much maintenence. I prefer a good bark mix with clay orchid pots (the ones with the verticle slots for better aeration).

[PhalPal]

I think it is dehydrated. I would pull it out of the pot to see if the issue is lack of roots or lack of water. In my first year of growing outside I had a few Catts that looked exactly like yours, blooms but wrinkled. What worked for me was a wetter mix for our dry summers.
The color of the leaves may be okay; it depends on the type. Most of my outdoor Catts have that lime green color. If you have no brown burned spots (you would know it!) and your plant is blooming then your light level is probably okay. Catts have beautiful flowers but the plant itself is not always so attractive.

[lmartiny]

Your Catt with only a few roots has a good chance to survive. I repotted a large one that was very root bound and very llittle good roots. I literally had to lop off the bottom of the root ball. I followed geeks' recommendations and it is now putting out new growths and roots.

[digitalgate]

from the look of the leaves, your catt is exposed to good amount of sunlight. While it is growing vegatively , the leave will turn hard under strong sun light. It will not bloom well, catt need to grown slight below Vanda. Your plant is giving you a very good gauge. Hard and dry leave show you need to reduce the light level slightly. Too little it will not grow well either.
If you can reduce the light level by 1000fc , (it is going to be tough to know how much is 1000fc without a light meter) you will get flower soon.