Wacky Cattleya and a fertilzer question

[elitebettas]

Hey Guys,
The cattleya I've been discussing-the one that sends out spikes with and without a sheath, as well as abort blooming on a new growth only to shoot out and bloom on a new lead has surprised me yet again. Today I was watering and found a new growth on the opposite side of the plant? See if you can see the unifolate growth amonst the first smaller psuedobulbs of this plant's life. What would cause that?

Second question, I use Better gro orchid food 20-14-13, my plants have been growing but i am wondering if i should use a balanced fertilzer like 20-20-20. Not sure if my fertilzer has anything to do with it, but the last pic is of one of my dens. Look at how big and leggy (long leaves) the new growth is compared to everythig previous. It gets great sunlight (right next to my blooming cattleya) so I don't understand why my new growths look like this. Even on my vanda outside. The new growth is wider than the previous growth....

[snowballsarebad]

The "leggy" growth issue: I think your plants are probably getting to a more mature size. Were they small or seedling size when you got them? I've bought most of my orchids youngish, and so, each growth tends to be larger than the previous. So I think you're doing just great. Keep it up.

[jerrymeola]

you may have two plants in the same pot.

It is not unusal for a catleya to grow in a second or third direction when it is pot bound and growth reaches the wall of the pot.

Of the two possibilities I bet on two plants

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by elitebettas

Today I was watering and found a new growth on the opposite side of the plant? What would cause that?

It's perfectly normal for Cattleya Alliance plants to start new leads like this. It's also a sign that your Catt. likes the culture you're giving it.

Keep up the good work!

[elitebettas]

snowballsarebad, thanks, I actually purchased them youngish looking, but they were mature enough to be in bloom when i bought them...I've heard that a measure of success in some orchids is that new growths should be the same size or larger than older growths, so we'll see
Jerrymeola, that's the first thing i thought as well, that maybe it's two plants, but i've checked and all of the growths are coming from the same rhizome, I'm wondering if this growth will reach the size of the enormous ones on the other side or just stay for "fuel"? Oh well, they just seem to do what they want, amazing plants

[sandra]

I have several catts whose new leads are not necessarily growing from what appears, the youngest ends, especially those that have already bloomed at least once. I believe I read that if the plant has been turned or direction towards the light/sun has changed, this is to be expected. You are so right, they're amazing especially to see grow. I've got one catt with a ps.bulb that is growing twisted/braided. I'll try to remember to take a pic later to show you.

[jerrymeola]

since they are one rhisome you can expect them to grow as big as the other side and they will reach flowering size faster than a young plant the same size.

I like to keep my Orchids to grow specimun size plants. Many growers divide these as they will become two flowering plants quickly (but slower than when left together). As to your fertilizer question, the extra nitrogen is not greatly out of balance. I would use it until it is gone. It is probably very good for bark planted orchids. Just stay away from the
30-10-10 'Orchid fertilizer'


as to your fertilizer question