I'm green

[bh4bhwgm]

I'm green about the business of growing orchids. Will someone please tell me what is needed to successfully grow a cattleya orchid in the home? It seems they are the most demanding thing I have ever tried to do. I grow nursery plants but this thing is about to get me down. Thanks.

[Swamper]

Don't let it get you down. Im sure some members will answer all your questions regarding Catts indoors really soon. I only have 5 or 6 and they are all outside. But you're in the right place for help. Good luck.

[kiki-do]

They need bright light and water good and dry out well before rewatering. Fertilize weakly weekly. What is happening to your Catt? Is it just not flowering? That would mean more light, usually.
It would help us help you if you told us how you are growing it in the first place.
Hang in there, we want to help.

[linsoo]

I'm no expert but I recently got my Catt to bloom after severel years. I use reverse osmosis water and fertilizer weekly. My orchids are grown under lights in my basement. I make sure there is at least 10 degrees defference in temp from day to night. I did put my orchids outside fro the summer so maybe thats what did it. keep trying they are worth it!
Linsoo

[Royal]

Hey bh,

One thing that kind of discourages newbies is the growth rate. Orchids can be slow growers. Once mature they will take off, but the size plants usually sold may take a while to kind of settle in while your other nursery plants are bolting. Don't be dicouraged, just try to be a bit more patient and do a little research around here. It will pay off and before long, you'll be posting bloom pics!

[bh4bhwgm]

Many, many thanks to all of you who responded. You are most kind to share your knowledge AND UNSELFISHLY I MUST SAY. Again, many, many thanks. Have a wonderful day.

[bh4bhwgm]

For Kiki: You asked about my cattleya-I had the plant in my breakfast area at an east window. The plant appeared fine until after the first watering. After that I noticed black leaves that had fallen off with a white substance on the bottom. Second watering was approx. 1/2 gallon fretilized water poured over the bark and roots. After that I sprayed the plant with a fungicide solution which contained 85% potassium bicarbonate in the water. I still noticed another small black leaf had fallen off. Thought this might be a fungus. I cut off all the black portion of the plant and put cinnamon on it as recommended by another grower. Someone suggested peroxide to kill the fungus. I tried that. By this time if I had hair I would probably be pulling it out ...but I'm bald already. I would really like to be successful in growing this plant. It was about 12-14" high when I bought it. Before I sprayed and did all that I repotted in a sterilized plastic pot with new bark. Hope this will tell you something. Thanks.