Need advice on this SLC before i give up on it

[jai_star]

I bought this SLC dreamcatcher middle of last year and it was in bloom since then it has not done it again for me. The lady at the orchid show says its easy to grow and rebloom.

I'm at the stage where i ponder if it should stay or go as its taking up valueable growing space.
The tag says "cool" under its name so what does that mean? Looking at the pics can someone tell me its condition? Does it need more or less or anything? It put out a lot of new bulbs in summer. Its on a NE window with the other orchids and recieves lots of light.

Question 2 : will new flowers come from these potential buds at the base of the leaves? Such as the one in the last pic

[silken]

Lots of cattleya orchids only bloom once a year, although others do bloom at various times. They will only bloom from the new growths once they are mature enough to produce a spike. I can't really see them in your photo but the new growths (pseudobulbs) do come from the base of the mature ones. So unless you have other new ones that have developed since you got it, you likely can't expect it to bloom again yet.

This hybrid is a little more than half C. coccinea which does grow cooler than some. OrchidWiz shows this hybrid requiring intermediate to cool conditions. It should have a fairly good diurnal range where it is quite warm in the day (70 to 85 approx.) and then down to 50 or 60's at night depending whether it's winter or summer. As far as I know this is a very popular cultivar and has many awards. I sure wouldn't be in a hurry to toss it! It also requires fairly bright indirect light. Dark green leaves indicate not enough and really light green indicate too much or at the upper limit.

I re-read your question. Yes, the spikes come from the base of the leaf which is the top of the pseudobulb. If it's a newly mature growth, then there is a chance it will bloom if it has been given good conditions.

[vjo]

What size pot is it in? Looks to me like it may be a little too large. I think they like to be a little crowded. Is that sunburn on the leaves? If so move it back from the window a tad. If it is not sunburn you should try to find out what it is. Q2..I dont think you will see flowers as I dont see any sheathes. I know sometimes some Cats will throw out a spike without them but most dont. Hope someone comes along that will be of more help.

[jai_star]

I just checked again and there are 2 new little sheaths at the base of last seasons p.bulbs will see if these will develop into blooms, do you thing this orchid is best suited in a glasshouse? As I just cannot get 60-70% humidity in the room even witht he dehumidifyer running all day!

[vjo]

A DE-humidifier takes the humidity out of the air. You need a humidifier.....Jean

[jai_star]

Originally Posted by vjo

A DE-humidifier takes the humidity out of the air. You need a humidifier.....Jean

Yes humidifier I meant sorry I have both but not int he same room the other is drying clothes in the laundry room

[Bud]

vjo is right, its a big pot. looking at pic2; the formation of the roots shows a smaller pot size that it was repotted right at the center with more than two inches of diameter media ...I have a sneaky suspicion that your plant is sulking because of the way it was repotted... It doesnt want to produce any new bulbs nor sheaths...the roots are looking good tho....I wish I was in your part of the world...I would of adopted that plant...but dont thrash it...give it to somebody who will love it...

[jai_star]

ok i will repot it into a smaller pot so it likes to be root bound? I thought by moving it bigger it has room to grow

[silken]

Originally Posted by Bud

I wish I was in your part of the world...I would of adopted that plant...but dont thrash it...give it to somebody who will love it...

You'd have to fight me for it Bud! But it looks big enough to split

I agree, it looks over-potted which can lead to root rot. Give it a pot just big enough for the roots but try and place the old growths against the edge of the pot so the new growths have room. This isn't always as easy as it sounds if it is growing in more than one direction.
I don't think you have to worry about attaining those humidity levels so long as it has good roots and you can give it the other conditions it requires. basically just standard cattleya conditions but it would accept a bit cooler as well.

[Bud]

silken is right, it can be divided into set of 4 bulbs and maybe it will give you little plants that will produce sheaths...or you can just let it become a large specimen and watch it give you a magnificent show of blooms...
too bad silken he is in NZ...both of us wont have a chance even if he mails it to us the customs oficers will just thrash it...