Cattleya Question

[ybrown]

I was wondering if someone here can help me to understand how cttleya grows.
I have one plant that I inherited last year in pretty poor condition. Last summer it produced a new shoot, but the pseudobulb on it never developped.
My understanding was that the pseudobulb should be developped fully by the end of the growing season. Is that correct? Will the old bulbs give flowers or each pseudobulb will only produce one flower in lifetime?
thanks, Yuliya

[FLBob]

Catts will only bloom once on a psudobulb. There maybe an exception to that rule, but I've never experienced it, or heard about it, or read about it. Not every psudobulb blooms. I have had a psudobulb that I've assumed would not bloom, bloom on the next bloom cycle of the plant but still it was only once.

Some hybrids will begin to send out flowers as the psudobulb is developing. Some hybrids bloom several times a year, others bloom at the same time once a year. Some Catts produce a sheath or flag that the bud(s) will develop inside of, some don't.

Each psudobulb is a storehouse of energy for the plant and as long as the psudobulb is healthy should remain part of the plant. Many Catts won't bloom reliably until there is a sufficient number of psudobulbs. Good light is a must for most Catts to bloom consistently.

[amersault]

i have Catt hybrid that is putting out new growth for the next PSB now. growth is about 1.5" - 2" long.

do i still fretilize in the dead of winter?

[ybrown]

Bob,
so how is it possible that cattleya has so many plowers on some pictures I've seen here?
if there is one shoot per year? unless it's not blooming every year?
Yuliya

[amersault]

some Catts put out multiple flowers on one PSB. my Potinara had 3 flowers on the newest PSB. so imagine if you had multiple sets of new growth, you could double/quadruple your bloom show.

[dounoharm]

ditto flbob...good information there...ybrown, you should look at your culture and try to figure out why the psuedobuld never developed....air light and water....the 3 main components to good culture...something was lacking, also, try to fertilize occasionally....

[FLBob]

Originally Posted by ybrown

Bob,
so how is it possible that cattleya has so many plowers on some pictures I've seen here?
if there is one shoot per year? unless it's not blooming every year?
Yuliya

It is possible for a single psudobulb to produce more than one flower, like C. Chocolate Drop which produces a flower cluster with many individual flowers. But that will only happen once. It is also likely that a healthy plant will produce a number of new psudobulbs at the same time. I currently have a Blc. George King 'Serendipity' with 7 psudobulbs developing. My hope is that it will bloom on all 7 psudobulbs.

[FLBob]

Originally Posted by amersault

i have Catt hybrid that is putting out new growth for the next PSB now. growth is about 1.5" - 2" long.

do i still fretilize in the dead of winter?

I fertilize very lightly/weekly all year long (1/4 strength)

[amersault]

Originally Posted by FLBob

I fertilize very lightly/weekly all year long (1/4 strength)

weekly!

ok, i'll set this guy up for the slow drip regimen. thanks, FLBob!

who better to ask than the guy w/ the 24-yr old orchid

[ybrown]

I read somewhere that the Cattleyas that bloom in spring and the fall will need a rest period in the winter, but those that bloom in summer do not.
I know that mine is definitely in the rest stage, so I treat it currently as such.
I think the biggest issue with the new growth is that is not getting enough light.
Yuliya

[11Orchid126]

I agree with FLBob. I fertilize very weakly all winter, here in the north 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon to a gallon of water and then as the light gets stronger and the plants start to grow better I gradually increase the strength.

You might consider giving the plant more light. Cattleyas need all the light they can get. If they don't grow well or bloom well, not enough light is almost always the reason. Here in New Jersey mine are in a south window right up against the glass. You might also consider putting the plant outside this spring and summer. I find that the additional light outdoors helps them to survive our dull northern winters.

Yes, you are correct in that a pseudobulb blooms only once, then continues to support the plant. However, each pseudobulb can produce many flowers, and each plant can produce many pseudobulbs.

[FLBob]

Originally Posted by amersault

weekly!

ok, i'll set this guy up for the slow drip regimen. thanks, FLBob!

who better to ask than the guy w/ the 24-yr old orchid

One point to remember when you are fertilizing regularly - fertilizers are salts and salt buildup will kill your plants. Flush with clean water.

[ybrown]

11Orchid126 ,
I am working on the light thing. I do not have a window in my house with enough light for catts. it was outside during summer but I guess that wasn't enough either.
I haven't figured out yet what is "bright shade, but no direct light".
for me there is either shade, sun or part shade, but I think even in part shade there is time when there is a direct light coming through.
so I will be figuring this all again coming summer.

[violetta]

Originally Posted by ybrown

11Orchid126 ,
I am working on the light thing. I do not have a window in my house with enough light for catts. it was outside during summer but I guess that wasn't enough either.
I haven't figured out yet what is "bright shade, but no direct light".
for me there is either shade, sun or part shade, but I think even in part shade there is time when there is a direct light coming through.
so I will be figuring this all again coming summer.

I never heard of "bright shade"
I give my catts bright light from a south window but no direct sun. They haven't flowered yet as they are very very small.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by violetta

I never heard of "bright shade" . . . bright light . . . but no direct sun.

Bright light but no direct sun = "bright shade" or also I commonly see it called "bright, indirect light"

Now you've heard of it and it sounds like you've even got it!

[violetta]

Originally Posted by kmarch

Bright light but no direct sun = "bright shade" or also I commonly see it called "bright, indirect light"

Now you've heard of it and it sounds like you've even got it!

that's why i love this forum