cattleya

[maninair]

I bought a cattleya (bare root) plant from a nursery. I have planted it in brick pieces and is facing east. Is it necessary to put Spagnum moss on top of the brick pieces. Kindly advice. Mani.

[BunnytheOrchid]

I didn't think brick retained water all that well. Sphagnum may help the cattleya hold more moisture when you water it. Then again, I'm not a huge fan of sphagnum, but perhaps it's easier when mixed in another medium. And maybe you are better at watering with sphagum than me!

[articuno75]

Mani~ your conditions are probably really humid if I'm not mistaken. Does this new Cattleya of yours already have established roots? You can top dress with spagh moss, but watch carefully because Cattleyas do not like to have their roots constantly wet. You want to be able to wet and soak the roots and let it dry out evenly at a good steady, yet quick pace. I would recommend filling with bark.

[patticake]

I agree with Jenny- bark w/ maybe a little sphag, would be better. Catts. like light. Depending on your window position, I might move it to a window that gets sun most of the day. I live where that is needed, but maybe that would be too intense where you are. Have you grown with brick pieces before? If so, how has it worked for you? I received an orchid in a lava-rock type medium once, but I re-potted into a bark mix. It just seemed "warmer" for the plant roots.

[maninair]

Thanks for your reply. Three weeks have passed since potting, still any no new growth seen. What is the problem. Pleae advice.

[BunnytheOrchid]

I didn't think 3 weeks without any new growth was a bad thing. Plus, it's possible down in the pot there is growth where you can't see it, like new roots and such to really plant itself in the mix. Cattleyas, if I've been informed correctly, are not particularly fast growers anyway. But, if you're certain it should be doing some active growing, we'll need to know its growing conditions, like light, water, humidity, temp, etc. Growth can be affected by a lot more than the mixture its planted in.

[kmarch]

You're right Bunny, 3 weeks with no growth is nothing to worry about. Most cattleyas go through either one or 2 growth cycles per year so a cattleya could easily go 6 months before a new growth starts. If 6 months to a year goes by with no new growth, then maybe we have cause for concern.

[maninair]

Thanks all. Yesterday I have seen a new bud growth near the roots. It is brownish in color.

Mani

[kmarch]

It may be a new growth, though if it is brown I'm not sure. It's definitely not a bud because cattleyas bloom from the top of mature growths, not from the base. Hopefully it is a new growth.

[maninair]

Yes, I think so. Thanks

[digitalgate]

brown or purple? brown... a little weird.. Make sure you give the new bud a lot of room
for expansion .Otherwise you end up needing to repot again.Cattleya don't take too kindly
to repotting.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by digitalgate

Cattleya don't take too kindly to repotting.

???? In my experience they take very well to repotting, not missing a beat, IF the repotting is done at the right time, either after blooming has finished or as new growth is starting.

[digitalgate]

remember i have no season. My catt. took longer to rebloom when repot.

[11Orchid126]

You might have what is called a new lead, which will grow into a new pseudobulb.

[maninair]

Thanks very much for your reply. When will the flower appear on pseudobulb?

[digitalgate]

depend on the type you have. I have some before the leaf grow more 3 inches, some6
inches then bloom, some grow root then bloom....

[tizzycat]

Maninair, please try to be patient and enjoy watching the new growth on your plant develop. The flowers will be a bonus when then come.

I'm sure you would know instantly if your plant was unhappy.

[maninair]

Thanks tizzycat, I am learning to be patient and watching my orchids. But one of my friends told me that the orchids flowers during rainy season.

[digitalgate]

but your rainy season prelude by hot and dry weather before it rain like crazy. Cattleya
need a slight cooler night before it will bloom. wait a minute, rainy and cold. That
could work!

[maninair]

Yes digitalgate, Now the summer season has just started and two and half more months for rainy season. I have noticed tiny black spots on the underneaths of the leaf of the Cattleya. What is that?

[digitalgate]

mold or fungus.. urgh.... You have to provide some windy condition for the plant.

[maninair]

Dear Digitalgate

My cattleya has a new growth and it has 3 leaves and I think it has stopped further growth. when can I expect flower spike on the new growth?
Mani

[digitalgate]

oh, dear. Sound like you dont have enought light for the plant.If you bought it bare root.
It would be best to let it grow new shot. Some people have 5 or 6 bulb before they allow
cattleya to bloom. They simply pinch the flower bud and wait for more speculator bloom.
Can you wait?

[maninair]

Dear Digitalgate,

Light is sufficient as it is kept in a east facing window. As suggested I will let it grow more pseudobulbs and then see . Thanks.
Mani