pruning cattleya?

[roxy527]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum and pretty new to orchids. I just picked up two cattleyas- have no clue what variety or anything, but they are kind of miniature. One is looking ok and the other had 4 flowers and 3 turned brown. I live in south FL and had them hanging from the south side of my house. Thought that was too much sun so I took them down but it's too late for the one. The 3 brown flowers fell off. Do I prune that shoot back? The other flower that is still hanging in there is on a separate shoot. Thx!

[janet_a]

i'm not the catt expert on here but don't cut anything on an orchid until it shrivels up and turns brown. trim off dead flowers but don't cut anything green.

south side in FL maybe be too much sun for a catt, but i could be wrong.......

I don't know about FL, but here in New Jersey I give my catts as much sun as they can take just short of burning them. Also, how long a time do they get the bright sun? That can make a difference, a few hours vs. all day. They can take all the morning sun you can give them as morning sun doesn't burn.

[jerrymeola]

Summer sun in Florida can reach 11,000 foot candles in July and August. While Cats like 3500-4000.

most people in Florida have screened in lanais and the screen blocks 70% of the light bringing it down to perfect levels for cats in full sun all day.

The flowers sound like they were at the end of their lifespan. Cat flowers last 3-8 weeks depending on species. You can cut off the old flower stem or leave it. The plant does not care. Leaves and old leafless pseudo bulbs ( the thick part uner the leaves) should not be removed. The leaves are necessary for growth and the old bulbs are a food and water reserve for the plant

[roxy527]

Hi Jerry, thx for responding. How often do they bloom?

[jerrymeola]

Blooming is genetic. Most wild ochid species bloom once a year while new hybrids can bloom much more often. Most hybrids coming out of hawaii bloom 203 times. some photos of year round continuous bloomers follow

Stima Kelly 'Lea' is almost never without a flower. The longest I have gone without a flower is six weeks.







I am regularily searching for orchids that bloom a lot and have two new continuously blooming orchids that have not had their photos posted t the gallery yet.