Cattleya questions...

[The Orchid Boy]

I bought a Potinara Memoria Irene Feil 'Ruby Red' at an orchid show last weekend. It has the most beautiful blooms!
My questions are:
-When should I repot it? There is moss growing and a few small weeds are growing in the pot. The medium looks pretty good though.
-If I do repot it do I have to divide it? It has 10 growths and one back bulb.
-If I did divide it, would both the divisions bloom next year or would they be in shock?
-I heard something about a "rest" for any cattleyas that don't bloom in summer? Is this true.
-Only one more question... I grow under T-5 lights and I had another younger cattleya under the lights a few inches away and the plant almost turned totally purple! This is suntan but I have never seen an orchid get so purple. How close should they be to the lights.

Thanks so much!

[bballr4567]

I keep my Pot. Burana Beauty about 5" from my HO T5. It seemingling loves it. I've got one almost mature growth and 3 new ones forming.

I honestly plan on never dividing this one. Its a fairly compact grower and from my reading and understand most Pot. plants are. Its in a 4" pot now and a 6" or 8" potted plant would look great when it blooms.

Other stuff, I dont know.

[Zoi2]

When to repot-I repot EVERYTHING the day I get it. This is pretty much a personal prefrance unless the plant is at risk.
Why divide the plant? If you have the space for a large plant, go for it. Sometimes dividing will set the plants back and they will fail to bloom for a season.
Your Pot. should not need a rest, most catts don't.
I'm clueless on your lighting issue as I don't grow under lights but the three Potinaras I have are sun hogs.
Joann

[Wynn Dee13]

I would wait to repot it until you see new root growth from the lead pbulbs. This will allow it to establish quicker. Sometimes its hard to get it going if you repot it without new root growth. Of course if the media is severely decomposed and you might loose the plant if you wait for new root growth repot it as soon as possible. You don't have to devide it unless you want to. I don't unless I have to because I like my plants to get big so they bloom on multiple leads. You can put the plant as close to the lights without burning it. If the leaves feel warm to the touch it is too close. The purple pigmentation means the plant is getting its maxium light. I have a lot that have turned purple. I also have read somewhere on here that the florecent lights cause the plant to get the purple color. I don't remember exactly why. But it is okay as long as they don't burn.

Wynn Dee

[Arenalbotanicalgarden]

Picture, por favor.

[WhiteRabbit]

I only divide if the plant becomes difficult to handle, too big for windowsill (if it can't grow outside year-round), or if I wish to share a division with someone, or for the plant's health (part of plant declining/dying). I love the look of large plants, especially when they get lots of blooms!

[tucker85]

If it's planted in bark and it's breaking down, you should repot. If it's planted in a rock medium, like hydroton or lava rock, and there's room to grow then I would leave it alone. I don't divide catts unless I have a reason to, but I do often remove some of the old back bulbs that are not contributing to the plant. The best time to repot is the spring at the first sign of new growth. Be careful, it's easy to break off new roots and new growths. The plant should bloom as usual unless it's a bifolate. Bifolate catts tend to be sensative to repotting and will sometimes skip a blooming season. Make sure you have a way to secure the plant, like a rhizome clip or a ring stake.

[The Orchid Boy]

Here's a few pictures...

[The Orchid Boy]

I noticed 4 new gowths that will start growing more soon!

[ab61]

Beautiful plant, I would leave it as it is for now, does not look too large for the pot.
I love potinaras, they small, reliable bloomers and overall easier then other cattleyas.