Cattleytonia Why Not Woes

[SarahS]

I purchased a Cattleytonia Why Not about 2 1/2 years ago and it has never rebloomed. I hear this plant is supposed to grow like a weed but I haven't seen it. I've repotted it once - the roots look okay, it even has some new ones. There hasn't been tons of growth with the leaves.

I have it in a southern window, water it once a week (too little?). I must admit I have been inconsistent with fertilizing but my other phals bloom just fine. I have been more consistent in the last couple of months and have a grow formula and a bloom one.

The tips are black (like someone's in another thread) but it was like that when I purchased it and it never has spread.

Thoughts? I tried to post a pic but they won't let me.

Sarah

[dipasquo]

Have you seen any new pseudobulb growth since you've had the plant? I don't believe this plant will rebloom from old PBs.

I got Ctna. Why Not last Oct in flower. It has not yet rebloomed, of course, but since New Years or so I have had a lot of new root growth and the start of a new PB growth that is about 3 inches tall with 6 or 7 segments on it. This plant came potted in sphag, which I haven't repotted; I water just when the sphag is dry. It lives in a southeasterly window that gets morning Sun directly but afternoon is only getting indirect light.

As I've experienced with other orchids, growing an orchid is one thing, but reblooming it is something else entirely. I understand that the most common cause of this (new growth with no new flowers) is insufficient light. We'll see what happens I suppose.

[SarahS]

I think i have a couple of new psuedobulbs. I tried to post a pic but the site doesn't allow that since I'm new.

Thanks,
Sarah

[jay]

First of all, Welcome to the forum. There a lot of people here that have a ton of information to share.

Second, we could use a little more info to truly help. If you go to your profile and update your location, this will help now and in the future. We are from all over the world and all have very different growing conditions.

Where are you growing your Ctna. Why Not? Is it in a window? Facing what direction? Have you repotted it since you bought it? What is it growing in? (bark, spag)

You will be able to post pictures after you have 5 posts. So just reply a few more times to this post until you can post pictures.

Now, the reason for not re-blooming when your Phals seem to be doing just fine. The main reason I would guess is amount of light. Phals are a low light plant and will do fine in low to medium light. Cattleya related orchids need much higher light levels to thrive and bloom. Depending on your location, an east or south facing window will help. If you are far north then you really want a south facing window or supplemental lighting.

We might have other ideas if you could answer some of the above questions.

[fred]

Hi SarahS
welcome to the forum
can you please go into your UserCP and update your Profile with your Location as this will help us to understand your growing conditions as we have members from all over the world with different growing conditions also with giving you the right advice

also as stated you do need 5 posts before you are able to post pics

[Nancy]

Hi. Welcome to the forum. I grow Cattleytonia Why Not under lights in front of a north window. My plant is potted in bark and is growing like a weed. I think perhaps the ost important things to consider when growing this plant is that it appears to like it warm and in very bright light. Hope this helps. Good luck with your plant.

[SarahS]

I have updated my profile, finally.

I am growing all of my orchids actually in a south facing window. There are a couple of trees farther away from the house, but generally there is good light in the room.

In the summertime I place them in a 3-month sunroom. The room gets southern and eastern light during the day but only has single pane glass. I had trouble last year with some leaf burning due to this, so I will try them on the northern side of the room.

Thanks

[Nancy]

I grow my plant in a clay orchid pot in a bark mixture. I water mine about twice a week and the temperature where it sits is 75 during the day and 65 at night. I fertilize the growth, and it has two with 30-10-10 up until it has grown half way. I then switch to 10-30-20. I think consistancy is very important with this plant. I also keep it in a smallish pot because I think it blooms better when the roots are confined. I have not had this one long enough to see if it will bloom, but I have Cattleytonia Keith Roth "Stephen Fouraker" sub variety Robson that blooms twice a year with this treatment. Try to be a little more consistant and your plant will reward you for it. Good luck.