Help with Cattleya

[Bobkap]

I have had this Cattleya for a few years and it only bloomed once.I have been trying real hard to get the hang of growing these orchids.Once I can figure out this particular orchid shown in the pictures I will buy another.This one always looks sick. Could someone look at the pictures and suggest what I'm doing wrong.

[Brooke]

Your Catt looks fine as do the roots on the newest growths. When you can't get a Catt to bloom you should try increasing the light. Most Catts want quite a lot of sun.

Does your newest pbulb have a sheath on it?

Brooke

[Bobkap]

Yes the new one has a sheath on for like 2 months. The leaves got dark spots on them when I gave it more sun,is that normal? And this is the way they are supposed to look. I feel like I'm doing something wrong.

[james mickelso]

This looks like it has adequate light levels due to the color of the leaves. It also looks like it has some fungal issues. Try a systemic antifungal on it. That sheath looks like it might be getting a little bulge around the base which is a good sign. Don't water it much. Keep it just a little dry until the sheath fills up. Don't feed it at all. Flowers bloom during the dry season on most catts. This catt also looks to be growing in too large a pot. If it stays too wet or damp, it encourages fungal and bacterial problems. I would also very carefully clean this catt up. All those old growth sheaths can hide all kinds of nasty critters and the pbulbs also photosynthesize. Use tweezers to carefully pull off the sheath material. Start at the base and pull them off a little at a time. Be very careful near the base of the pbulbs which is where the new growth buds are located. What are you feeding it? How often do you water? If you get those older shorter pbulbs up to the surface they may push growth buds. Nice looking media it's growing in too. The black spots may be black spot fungus which will be taken care of by the antifungal you're going to put on it.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Are you growing indoors or outdoors?

What are the day and night temperatures?

What are the seasonal temperatures?

How's the air circulation?

If those spots are really caused by a fungal problem, then I recommend you first and foremost figure out how your air circulation is.

Secondly, what time of the day do you normally water? Does any water sit on the leaves when it is cool and the air circulation is rather low?

You may have to treat with a fungicide, but most of the times, if the way you are cultivating your orchid is adjusted, the problem will usually go away after a while.

[tucker85]

That's a bifoliate cattleya and they can be more sensitive to environmental change than other cattleyas. They can sulk for a long time if they're not happy with their culture. In the future, with cattleyas, I recommend using a smaller pot with only room for a couple new pseudobulbs. In general most orchids do better when tightly potted. And a pot with more holes on the sides for drainage and air movement. Cattleyas like to dry out fairly quickly. Seaweed products may encourage new root growth but , like I said, bifloiates can be temperamental.

[Bobkap]

Thanks for all the advice with my Cattleya. I ordered some new potting mix and will be repotting it this week. I have it in a 6 inch pot because the Root system is huge and won't fit in anything smaller. I didn't even know there was a bifoliate or unifoliate plant until I read the posts,just learned something. I hope I can get it to bloom this year.