When do Cattleyas normally bloom?

[Myrle Diefendorf]

My cattleyas are all spiking now. I think the cooler nights and longer days signal bloom time for those of us in the zone 7 and 8 climate when we put our orchids outside. Too much fertilizer can lead to a lot of vegetative growth and not so many blooms, but I usually should do more fertilizing but using the garden hose is easier to water. This one had six blooms on two spikes and is very fragrant, and was a Baggie from Lowe's about three or four years ago. The tag said 2010, and I think that is the date the grower pots them up. Anyone know? Also Cattleyas need a lot of sun to set blooms.

[Leafmite]

No idea how light will affect things but you can pm Katrina as she grows under lights (and she is an expert, too!).
I just break the eggshells and mix them into the top of my medium. They decompose slowly. If your water and fertilizer don't provide calcium, you might look into buying cal-mag.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by Myrle Diefendorf

Attachment 89094My cattleyas are all spiking now. I think the cooler nights and longer days signal bloom time for those of us in the zone 7 and 8 climate when we put our orchids outside. Too much fertilizer can lead to a lot of vegetative growth and not so many blooms, but I usually should do more fertilizing but using the garden hose is easier to water. This one had six blooms on two spikes and is very fragrant, and was a Baggie from Lowe's about three or four years ago. The tag said 2010, and I think that is the date the grower pots them up. Anyone know? Also Cattleyas need a lot of sun to set blooms.

I am wondering if the drop in sunshine might be part of the issue? I have been opening the windows in hopes of having them set spikes, but they are in a west window that has a lot of trees outside, so I think they have suffered a pretty significant drop in daylight time which might be part of the problem. I ordered some lights, I can't wait for them to arrive, lol. Maybe that will change things...OR maybe they are just spring bloomers and will surprise me

---------- Post added at 01:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:20 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Leafmite

No idea how light will affect things but you can pm Katrina as she grows under lights (and she is an expert, too!).
I just break the eggshells and mix them into the top of my medium. They decompose slowly. If your water and fertilizer don't provide calcium, you might look into buying cal-mag.

Is there a mineral content test of some kind I can perform on my water? I've just got a PUR faucet filter, nothing special, lol.

[Myrle Diefendorf]

This is Cattleya "Crystelle Smith" which has been blooming constantly since February and lasts for weeks. It is in a slatted basket with no media at all, and hangs on the back porch getting morning sun, and watering with the hose every few days, and if lucky a weak orchid fertilizer every couple weeks.

[Myrle Diefendorf]

Interesting about the PUR water filter. It may take any dissolved minerals out, so you should use a complete orchid fertilizer with all the trace elements in it.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by Myrle Diefendorf

Attachment 89095This is Cattleya "Crystelle Smith" which has been blooming constantly since February and lasts for weeks. It is in a slatted basket with no media at all, and hangs on the back porch getting morning sun, and watering with the hose every few days, and if lucky a weak orchid fertilizer every couple weeks.

That is so beautiful! Ugh, I can't wait to get a grown-up house so that I can hang orchids EVERYWHERE!! It's so limiting to grow in an apartment.

It looks as thought you've got quite the green thumb, look at those (I presume??) rose bushes down by your pool! WOW!

Also it's way warmer down in SC than it is up here in MD. All you southern folk (I know, I know, I'm below the Mason-Dixon line, I qualify) have the perfect climate for these guys. I like winter too much!!

---------- Post added at 01:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:26 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Myrle Diefendorf

Interesting about the PUR water filter. It may take any dissolved minerals out, so you should use a complete orchid fertilizer with all the trace elements in it.

This is what I use, are these proportions too low?
Dyna-Gro Liquid Grow 7-9-5 - Seed Starting | Greenhouse Megastore

[Myrle Diefendorf]

I haven't used Dynagro but use the complete fertilizer sold in the pink bag in the houseplant section of Lowe's and Home Depot, especially for orchids, with all the trace elements listed.

[WhiteRabbit]

Are they bloom size? Do you see remains of old spikes? Or were they in bloom when you got them?

As others have said, different species bloom at different times. Some hybrids, when mature, are capable of blooming on every new growth, which may be a few times a year.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Are they bloom size? Do you see remains of old spikes? Or were they in bloom when you got them?

As others have said, different species bloom at different times. Some hybrids, when mature, are capable of blooming on every new growth, which may be a few times a year.

My Lc. Fire Dance Patricia does have remains of an old spike. My Eplc. I do believe is blooming size it has 4-5 pbulbs. My Blc. may be too young yet, but I'm not sure. It does not have evidence of an old spike anywhere. I believe it has 3-4 pbulbs, but that one is a particularly slow grower. In the time my other guys shot up and fully matured their new growths and started in on a second, it is just now reaching full growth lol. It has lanky pbulbs (it was like that when I got it) too so I think it's a bit behind the curve of the others, lol.

[WhiteRabbit]

Most of my Catt types (hybrids and species) bloom in spring and summer. Some get sheaths on new growth in late summer, but not blooming til the following spring- summer. A couple of hybrids are free bloomers, blooming two-three times a year.

Sometimes patience is the only remedy needed.