What is the best way to treat a bud?

[Nancy]

I have two Cattleyas growing buds. One is a Cattleya intermedia. This plant has oriented its buds toward a north facing window and the buds are beginning to open. Will the buds develop color in such low light? Another Cattleya hybrid I have is an Otaara. I have this plant directly under bright flourescent light. The buds are showing their "ruffles" but are not opening yet. Would this plant be better placed in a lower light situation or left to develop in the higher light? Any thoughts on the matter will be grately appreciated.

[articuno75]

That's a good question I want to know this one. I've been told temperature can make Vanda colors enhance. Does lighting also have that effect?

[Nancy]

Wow! That was a fast reply! I'm concerned because I was wondering if too much light can cause bud blast or prematurely age a flower.

[tom499]

I would wait for further advice, but I would say that if the buds are growing happily and opening then I would leave them alone.

My first Catt flower which I posted last week had been in bud from before Xmas! It was very slow to grow but got there eventually in a low light spot and has flowered fine

[exasperatus2002]

I dont think the light will bother it. If the light was a problem, you most likely wouldnt have gotten the bloom to begin with. As an example, I grow all my orchids in a south facing window. My Phal blooms for me and has great color (see photo contest). its right in the front getting first light because of the size of the leaves. It needs to hang over the edge of my stand. With my Cattleyas behind it and everything still blooms.

[evagentry]

I would be very careful moving a plant before its flowers are fully open, I hope all goes well for you.

[kmarch]

I echo those who have posted thus far. Unless the light is so close that it will burn the flower it's usually best to not mess with a plant once in bud. Once the flowers are open and set thna you could put the plant on the dining room table t enjoy, but moving a plant in bud can cause buds ot twist to reorient themselves to the new light direction.

Whatever colour your Cattleya intermedia is when it opens is what it will be on this flowering. As far as I know, intermedia doesn't change colour once open.

[Nancy]

Actually, Cattleya intermedia does change color as the flower develops after opening. My flowers opened white and are now a lovely shade of pink.

[kmarch]

My v. acquini didn't. It opened white with wine coloured flares and stayed that way.

[Nancy]

I bet it's beautiful. I'd love to tryone of those but I haven't been able to find one. I hope you continue to enjoy your treasure for years to come.

[jerrymeola]

Both you Cattleya are already in the low end of the light range for flowering so I do not see any need to change. I never like to move plants in bud. Sometimes they get mad at me for it and punish me with dropping buds or badly formed flowers.

[Nancy]

the plants that like to aim their buds at the north window are at the low end, but the ones directly under the flourescents receive quite a bit of light. I don't worry about the ones in the low light. they seem to bloom for a long time. I was wondering if continued high light might cause a bud to fade sooner.

[kmarch]

Nancy, let me reiterate something Jerry mentioned in his post. The cattleyas you have under your florescent tubes are not receiving high light. Florescent tubes do not put out enough light to put them in the high-light range. They may seem bright to you but to orchids they're in the medium to low light range. Some cattleyas can bloom nicely in these light conditions while it is not enough for others. I doubt the light level put out by your florescent lights is enough to cause blooms to fade.

[Nancy]

Okay. I guess I'm a worrier. The lights just turn the growths on most of the Cattleyas a dark red. I guess that's why they seem so bright. I'll let it alone now.