Cattleya - To Bloom or not to Bloom...

[PapaPhal]

Hello. I have what I believe is a NOID cattleya. I am not sure if it is a standard or mini cat. I have had it for a little over a year now. I purchased it off of the clearance rack at a big box store. At the time of its purchase, the type of orchid it was did not matter to me; I had just witnessed a white phal. bloom twice in one year, which was amazing to me! I just knew that I wanted another orchid. I now realize that shortly after obtaining it I started to over-care for this poor little cattleya by repotting it too many times over the course of a three month period by trying to get it in the perfect potting mix – too much reading, too little patience. After a while I finally started to realize that I was doing more damage than good. I decided to just leave it alone and see how it would do in its current conditions: ~68 – 70 deg. F daytime, ~60 – 62 deg. F night, net style plastic basket inside of a clear plastic pot, coarse bark and pearlite. It is in an east facing window where it gets good morning and early afternoon sun. I really do not have a much better location to put it. I have been watering it weekly, with an occasional misting in between. When watering, I also fertilize weekly-weakly with a 19-8-16 fertilizer and one drop of super thrive per gallon of water for good measure. Lately it has really started to grow a lot of new roots and two new small chutes. I am hoping it is getting enough sun to produce blooms. I have never seen its flowers but I hope to. I realize that it is anyone’s guess as to whether this cat will bloom or not but I would like to know when cattleyas normally bloom and if this little guy even stands a chance considering its current growing conditions and appearance.

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[NYCorchidman]

Well, cattleyas bloom all year around depending on what kind they are. They usually have their season and bloom during that specific time of the year and others bloom as soon as new lead is mature, which can be twice or three times a year given enough warmth to grow fast.

Yours is smallish, but not quite min, so they call it compact catt. standard catts are pretty large.

By the way it looks, one cannot judge whether it will or will not flower.

Given your description, your catt might not get enough light. Some catts can do with less light, but most cattleyas need A LOT of light.

Also, it is in bark at the moment and that is good. You don't want to repot too often because no matter how careful you are, roots get damaged and that is no no.
It is pushing out some new roots and those root tips are very fragile. You definitely don't want to move it around any more.

Good luck!

[PapaPhal]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

Given your description, your catt might not get enough light. Some catts can do with less light, but most cattleyas need A LOT of light.

I do have one other option but I am not sure if it is a better one and that is a south facing basement window. But I will have to wait for maybe another month or so before I get better, longer sun. When I have plants by that window I usually have a shear up because the sun light is pretty intense for approximately 4 to 5 hours. I have read that the optimal spot would be to get morning sun, mid-day shade and early evening sun. At least for me that is hard to do in a window sill. Anyway I will keep my fingers crossed that it is getting enough sun light in its current location.

[NYCorchidman]

I don't know how many hours of morning sun your east window gets, but if your window is southeast and provide all morning (that's nearly 5-6hours during warmer season), then that should probably do.
The best is bright all day light.

If your basement window give longer light throughout the day, then that's much better.

Without enough light, you may not see flowers ever on catts.

[silken]

Your plant looks pretty healthy and has lots of growths, so it could bloom sooner rather than later. Cattleyas for the most part require pretty high light. When the south window gets longer sun, I would consider moving it there. You will want to use caution so that you don't burn it tho. Feel if the leaves get warm at the brightest time and if so, move it back a bit. You could also introduce it slowly so it can adjust. When you have some new leads developing, I would consider changing the fertilizer to one that has less nitrogen (1st number) and more phosphate (2nd number). There is lots of controversy as to whether increasing phosphates helps blooms or if it is just less nitrogen that helps. Nevertheless, if you get a fertilizer with less nitrogen, it is often called a bloom booster and has more of the 2nd number anyways. The phosphate is also known to help harden off the new growths which could induce it to bloom. They only bloom from the latest growth as it matures so that is why you use the bloom booster when a new growth is developing. Good luck and post pics if it blooms!

[PapaPhal]

Originally Posted by silken

When you have some new leads developing, I would consider chanhging the fertilizer to one that has less nitrogen (1st number) and more phosphate (2nd number).

Hmmm...That is definitely worth a try. Would I still use the weakly-weekly method? You can bet if this cat blooms I will be posting some pictures because I will need to release over 1 years worth of anxious waiting.

[silken]

Yes, weakly weekly would still be fine. I know what you mean about anxious waiting!

[james mickelso]

I don't think in Colorado your southern sunlight would be too strong right now as you are fairly far north so I would put it there. If the leaves feel a bit warm to the touch there, just move it back from the window or a shear will do. Weakly weekly is the method I use and my catts do very well. Switch when the new growth is halfway to maturity. That is normally when the plant is making the switch to starting a flower deep down inside it's machinewry. The color on your catt looks ok for the most part but depending on what type it is it may need more light to flower. I can see it has flowered before. It needs repotting from the looks of the media. When it gets warmer say around april I would very very carefully repot it. You can even divide it. Some folks like to let it get completely root bound in the pot but I found that when it is finally repotted it is so much more deleterious to the plant and sets it back quite a ways. Also none of the pbulbs now grown will flower. What you need to watch for is the new growth just starting. Those new growth are where the next seasons flowers will be bourne. Watch the water. To find the right amount of fertilizer for it I would use Rays feed calculator. Too much nitrogen encourages foliar production at the expense of flowers. That is why I switch to a higher ratio of phosphorus/potassium feed when the growth is halfway mature. Keep us informed.When to switch.

[tucker85]

I think your orchid looks very healthy. The color of the leaves indicate to me that it's getting sufficient light. I think the pot and the media look perfect. Your watering and fertilizing routine sounds good. Personally I wouldn't change anything. If you want to increase the light some, it certainly won't hurt. Just keep doing what you're doing. Most cattleyas have a specific time of year when they bloom.

[PapaPhal]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

I don't think in Colorado your southern sunlight would be too strong right now as you are fairly far north so I would put it there.

Originally Posted by james mickelso

It needs repotting from the looks of the media. When it gets warmer say around april I would very very carefully repot it.

Originally Posted by tucker85

I think your orchid looks very healthy. The color of the leaves indicate to me that it's getting sufficient light. I think the pot and the media look perfect. Your watering and fertilizing routine sounds good. Personally I wouldn't change anything. If you want to increase the light some, it certainly won't hurt. Just keep doing what you're doing. Most cattleyas have a specific time of year when they bloom.

James and Tucker thank you for your time and opinions however contrary they may be. I have read many of both your posts and I value your knowledge and expertise.
Maybe in another month or so I will move my plant to the south facing basement window. The problem with doing it now is it is a fairly deep window with a window well. The sun has to be a little more over-head to get sufficient sunlight for at least 4 or 5 hours.
I am guessing that my pictures need something to be desired but the current potting mix is only approximately 6 months old. The plant did not have a lot of roots at the time of the last repotting. At least for now, it is growing well so I think I will give it a little more time to recover.
Also I am going to switch my fertilizer to one with more phosphate and less nitrogen. Based on what has been said I will do this as so as possible. But maybe for only 4 or 5 months then switch back to the fertilizer with more nitrogen. Good idea?
For what it is worth I have spent time in Pacific Grove, CA and Cape Canaveral, FL. Please do not ask me which one I prefer.