Stunted growth on Cattleya

[StephaneL]

The latest growth on my my Rlc. Bengal Baby is stunted and I am wondering why.

When the new growth started it was right against the pot. I immediately cut the pot, so I don't believe that is the source of the problem.

Last summer the plant got too much sun and its leaves got partly burned. I left it in a sunny place in the fall and winter (it was ok the previous winter) and last fall's growth looks nice. This summer I moved it to a spot where it only gets diffuse sunlight. Is it possible that it is now not getting enough light?

Could it be a sign of another deficiency or disease? I don't see any bugs, but could it be an infestation?

I plan to repot the plant when roots appear on the new growth. Any reason to wait for a normal growth before repotting?

[estación seca]

It looks starved for water. Catts pushing new growths should not be allowed to dry out for more than a few hours. That large chunk bark, outside in a warm area, will dry out very rapidly. How are you watering?

[SouthPark]

The growth still looks ok. Maybe it just got a bit floppy at one stage - and is just growing in a sideways direction.

[StephaneL]

Thank you both!

@estación seca: It is actually in stalite (a porous rock). It is inside, close to a south west facing window. It rarely gets hot in Coastal Southern California; my apartment has not been above 25C (75F) this year yet. I water it when about the top two thirds of the pot is dry, which is every 3 days at this moment.

---------- Post added at 04:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:40 PM ----------

@SouthPark: I believe it is more than just growing sideways. The pseudobulb is much smaller than the previous ones on the same plant.

[Shadeflower]

It looks like a leaf mutation which is causing the leaf to grow stunted and sideways. Orchids can do this from stress occasionally but it should grow out of it. The new pseudobulb is as thick as the older ones so it is really not as bad as it seems. As long as it grows new eyes on the bulb it will be able to grow more bulbs. This one won't be able to flower so a small setback but I don't think the plant is lacking anything and will carry on growing normally next season as long as it doesn't get stressed by getting sent in the post or sunburnt or something. Light would not cause this so don't move it.

[estación seca]

It's reached the edge, and is growing new roots that have already been somewhat tip damaged. I would repot right now. I think the issue is not enough water while the new shoot was developing.

[Roberta]

That new growth almost looks like it got broken, or else munched. ES has a point on watering - that stalite holds none. But I have found that Catts tend to grow best once they escape from the pot - roots outside the pot aren't particularly an issue. In fact, I have gone almost completely to baskets for Catts - roots seem to want to run free. At any rate, I think this was a one-time issue where the new growth got damaged as just the wrong time. A repot with a little more room is likely all that it needs. (I do know how sunburn can be a surprise in some years not others - one year it may be overcast when the sun is in a particular position, in another year it's blazing. )

[StephaneL]

Thank you all!

I will repot soon and I will try to resist the temptation to use medium that is too large (I may be too worried about root rot).

[SouthPark]

Stephane ----- you're most welcome. In general ----- this is just for helping only --- the aim is mainly to keep orchids alive and healthy for very long periods of time - ideally indefinitely, and also considering effort we're prepared to put in --- such as for watering, fertilising, etc.

As long as one is happy with their method - and it is suitable for them --- and importantly keeps the orchids alive indefinitely, then it's great.

The size of medium will be 'relative'. So unless we go to really extreme cases ...... then the size of the media pieces you use might not be 'too large' (or too anything) ----- as a workable solution may still be found for that size ----- eg. watering frequency, and the area that the orchid is being grown ----- considering the environment (humidity, air-flow etc).

[estación seca]

In your temperatures and relative humidity, root rot is caused by root suffocation in broken down medium, not by watering. In medium such as yours with large air spaces between the chunks, you could water every day and not rot the roots.