catt questions

[chilipepper]

These are my catts that I bought as bag babies at lowes 2 to 3 years ago. I have never had any cattleya before. I see many pictures and most of them the foliage is more upright. I know from the color these guys need more light and I have just relocated them to a west window and will put them outdoors when weather permits. Would someone who knows catts tell me if these guys look ok? They are Lc CG. Roebling Sentinel and BLC Mildred Hollingsworth

[katrina]

Not all catts are upright growers...some are quite sprawling in their growth habit. Some sprawl out all over the place , actually.

I'm not familiar w/your particular clones and they very well could be the sprawling type so I wouldn't be too concerned about anything that isn't perfectly upright BUT...the new growth that I can see looks a little "floppy" rather than firm. The floppiness could be a result of too little light or too much fert (specifically too much Nitrogen)...or a combo of both. OR, if might just be what that plant does. You already mentioned the light issue so just increase your light gradually as the leaves can easily burn if it's increased too quickly. Check your fert schedule/dosage...make sure you aren't overdoing it.

Other than the bit of floppiness...they look really good. Nice, plump pbulbs...always a good sign.

[hagfish]

I've noticed cattleya seedlings don't necessarily grow upright the way mature plants do. Seedlings will take anywhere from 5 to 10 years to develop into mature plants. They will have flowered by then and the mature pseudobulbs will be upright. Your plants look perfectly healthy. Be careful exposing them to brighter light. This needs to be done gradually with any plant. Sunburn in cattleyas looks like yellow patches at first and severe sunburn will form black spots. I use bright indirect sunlight with the largest ones I have and ordinary 40 watt shop fluorescents with the smaller ones. The big ones only get full sun in the late afternoon and only when I move them when they flower once a year.

[WeirdGuySeattle]

It looks like this plant was grown in pretty low light where it had something blocking light overhead. (My mom has one looks like this, it is grown on the second shelf of a bookcase and always stretches towards the windows).

I think if you up the light intensity it *might* start growing upright. Usually sprawling plants still reach for the light source.

[chilipepper]

Actually it used to be under a sodium halide grow light but possibly too far away from it

[Optimist]

Just saying, today I was hooked into buying another lowes rescue catt. Anyway I do notice that my blc lawless is flatening out, moreso than copper queen. Lc lory ann bigger, longer p bulb and fatter leaf than lc liptonii. I think it is just a hybrid thing. Same as a mutt having a blue eye and a black and one ear flopping and one standing streight. Ilove hybrids but in a sense, they are mutts, and anything goes.

[chilipepper]

For curiosities sake what stage of growth was the Lowes catt you bought in? All I have seen around here are the seedings in the little mesh bags.

[AnonYMouse]

I have a couple/three catts that are not upright. Those specific hybrids, their parentage, something in their genetic code makes them do this under certain conditions. I have no idea what nor do I care much since they are healthy. Might become a space problem eventually.

[chilipepper]

Oh I'll make space. One way or another. I may have to set up my light system again to do it although they will be outside as soon as possible.

[NYCorchidman]

Upright ones stay that way if you can provide over head light or if you can grow them in a greenhouse.

All the upright ones I have will eventually turn and twist their body toward the direction of the sun in the window, and not so upright anymore in the end. lol