Potinara orchid care

[denvervet]

I have had a Pot. Kozo's Scarlet 'Vi-Emi' SM/JOGA orchid for about 2 years. It was in distress when I got it, lots of new leaves since then. No blooms, but it was so hot and dry here this Summer, can someone tell me what might be the best growing conditions? Its in a NE window, large bark mix growing medium, feed 2 X a month, about an hour of sun in the morning, bright light all day good air movement. Grows well, just doesn't flower.

[PaphMadMan]

The appearance of the plant indicates it is not getting enough light. Am I correct in assuming the newest growths are on the right? The pseudobulbs should be thicker and more upright, with broader leaves, if it is getting enough light. It looks basically healthy so I think you are growing it well other than that.

If you are using full-strength fertilizer cut back to half-strength, and use a low nitrogen fertilizer to encourage flowering. If If it hasn't been repotted since you got it, it is probably overdue.

Potinara (Pot.) is a hybrid Cattleya type, but is an outdated name since many of the 15 species in the background have been reclassified. Now it should be Rhyncholaeliocattleya (Rlc.).

You can find a Cattleya care sheet elsewhere on the forum or many places on the internet if you want to double-check your growing conditions.

[Vanda lover]

I agree with Paphmadman. The pot is shallow and well drained and it looks like it is being grown correctly. When something isn't flowering it is most often lack of light. Most of us prefer weakly weekly for fertilizing. There is a lot of debate over whether bloom formulas work, however.

[denvervet]

Ok, I have an east window that I can move this orchid too, I have Vanda's there which do well and bloom. The sun is so intense in denver I keep a sheer curtain between the window and the plants. I fertilize as directed with Miracle Grow Orchid Food 2 X a month approximately. Thank you for the advice and I will look up Cattlea orchid care, I don't have any but should as I have huge windows and lots of sun, we get more sun here than southern california.

[tucker85]

I agree that if a cattleya type orchid doesn't bloom it usually needs more light. One other observation, whenever you repot this orchid, you should consider using a smaller pot. Orchids grow and bloom better when root bound in a small pot. This is especially true of cattleya alliance orchids that like to dry out completely between waterings. Large pots can hold too much moisture and dry too slowly.

[denvervet]

I am thinking of repotting it this week, I believe I have a smaller pot for it. I am going to bury those roots and stand the plant upright. It definately dries out between waterings here in this very dry climate. Thanks for the advice.