UK Cattleya growers! What's your method?

[Jasonmc89]

I've got a couple of other threads on go at the minute which has led me to ask this..

I'd like some tips or advice from any UK growers (or any other dull, cool, very un-tropical countries) on how they have success with their Cats.

I only have two at the moment, a walkeriana and a perrinii and I would like more but my culture is nowhere near there yet to justify adding to my collection.

I get on fine with others, like oncidiums and dens. But Cattleyas are my favourite of course!

So what's your secret?


Thanks.

[Salixx]

I live in an area that can be dull and dreary, but get a fair amount of full sun days as well... So I won't say they are comparable.

But, I have a lot of Catts and only two suitable windows for them. My solution is to buy mini-catts (I am using catt for the whole alliance) and grow under lights.

That said, if you don't want to do that, there are some species and hybrids that do well under lower light, closer to oncidium conditions. One is Laelia praestans, I would check it out. I have one and I love it to pieces.

[Subrosa]

Whenever nights are reliably above 50°F all of mine are outside except for a few warmer growing species that I keep in until nights are reliably above 60°F.

[Jasonmc89]

In a climate like mine where winters are dull and cold and summers are (usually) bright and warm would you still try to provide more shade in summer and more light in winter?

Or as this is pretty much impossible without artificial light would you just get it in as much sun and you can all year round?

[Subrosa]

I definitely use artificial light while my plants are indoors. My window space that's bright enough for Cattleya is very limited.

[Optimist]

I'd say invest in a light meter. Certain of my windows get 1,500 fc, (European measurement is something different). Cattleyas need the high side of 2000-3000fc while a cloudless day, high summer at noon can be upwards of 10,000 fc. So you have to keep taking measurements so that you know where in the house or garden they would be happy, and at what time of year. (Like subrosa, I put mine outside all night if night temps will be 50 or higher.)

[Jasonmc89]

So the 2000-3000fc would be an average amount throughout the day or what?

[rbarata]

Do you have a photo cam with a light meter?
Read this...
If you don't know the cam specs (if your phone, for ex, doesn't have the possibility to choose the specs you want, download the photo, right click and select properties\details...approx. values are there).

[Jasonmc89]

I have a DSLR?

There is an iPhone app that is a lightmeter but I wouldn't trust it to be very accurate.

[rbarata]

Reliable lightmeters are expensive.