When do Cattleyas normally bloom?

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by 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 are free bloomers, blooming two-three times a year.

Sometimes patience is the only remedy needed.

The Eplc. does have some new sheaths, and I think the Lc. is growing one (it has a funny growth pattern on its new growth atm because it came up behind an existing pbulb lol - so it's hard to tell). So maybe they will just hang out over winter and store up a bunch of energy and then surprise me in the spring. *fingers crossed*!!

[HighSeas]

I also supplement Calcium and Magnesium. Calcium can't be utilized by the plant unless it's Mag sources are of normal levels. I use Epsom salts for the Mag and calcium nitrate for the calcium. I've also used Dolomite Lime but it looks like it snowed in my pot!

Calcium nitrate is quick and the nitrate is good also. Magnesium sulfate also supplies a little sulfur along with the Mg. Rough proportion is 2:1 or 3:2 - CA:MG Both help the plant to produce chlorophyll. If you mix the two don't put them in solution at high concentration. You can get a precipitate of Ca SO4 (gypsum). When dissolving fert I use 1/4 teaspoon normal fert + 1/8 t. of Calcium nitrate per gal. After that is dissolved, I add a little less than 1/8 t. of the Epsom salt and mix again. Often you can find Calcium Nitrate (small BB sized pellets)in 50 lb quantities for landscaping fert or used as an additive to concrete to keep it from freezing when pouring in cold weather.

[Myrle Diefendorf]

My LC's are blooming now, and Cattleya Crystelle Smith blooms year round constantly, a lovely little , or rather I should say big, plant with short pseudo bulbs.LC Newverry Pixie has just opened its first seedling bloom with BIG fragrance.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by Myrle Diefendorf

My LC's are blooming now, and Cattleya Crystelle Smith blooms year round constantly, a lovely little , or rather I should say big, plant with short pseudo bulbs.LC Newverry Pixie has just opened its first seedling bloom with BIG fragrance.

The only guy of mine that is blooming at present is my Beallara. And one of my mini phals has thrown out like 3 spikes, lol.

I have noticed, though, on my cattleya types, that the sheath things in their leaves are browning a lot. But I don't know what that means, if anything.

[Myrle Diefendorf]

The captions above are under the wrong plants, but hopefully everyone can tell the difference. The sheaths almost always brown and can be peeled off when they are dry...a good idea since bugs like to get down in there.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by Myrle Diefendorf

The captions above are under the wrong plants, but hopefully everyone can tell the difference. The sheaths almost always brown and can be peeled off when they are dry...a good idea since bugs like to get down in there.

But the sheath is on the new leaves? Not the outside (I have peeled those) but on the inside of the actual leaves. I don't think those can be peeled without being ripped out of the leaves. ?

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

The only guy of mine that is blooming at present is my Beallara. And one of my mini phals has thrown out like 3 spikes, lol.

I have noticed, though, on my cattleya types, that the sheath things in their leaves are browning a lot. But I don't know what that means, if anything.

Many Catt types get sheaths late summer or fall - sheaths brown but produce blooms in spring or summer. Or, sheath will not be producing blooms ... Have to wait and see...

[No-Pro-mwa]

I've got 3 that I got this summer that have sheaths one is getting very yellow and the others nothing. I am just leaving them alone and just hoping they will eventually bloom. I do have one that is a first bloomer that I just got in October that is going to bloom......yippy!!!!!!

[mattryan]

Very interesting thread. I am in the same predicament. I currently have 31 of my orchids in spike/bloom and have re-bloomed almost everyone of my orchids except my one and only mini catt. I have never seen it in bloom as it was on the clearance rack. It had only 2 growths when I got it. It now has 11 new growths. It is getting enough light as it is in between an Potinara and a Sagarik Wax, both bloomed this and last year. My conditions are: In a south facing window, 20-20-20 fert once maybe 2x a mo.more in the summer was re-potted since I've had it approx. 3 yrs. It also does get a temp drop, it's down near the floor in front of sliding door. Max night temp 60 degrees celcius, the room during the day when sunny can get to 25 degrees celcius. This orchid has me stumped I thought it needed more growth maybe to immature when it last bloomed. I also do put egg shells into my pots. I have several different types in my collection: dens/cyms/phals /oncs/phraggs/paphs and catts, but this one has me totally stumped.

Cheryl