Pot. Shinfong Beauty 'Super Diamond'

[GeorgiaVL]

Has or is anyone grown(ing) a Pot. Shinfong Beauty 'Super Diamond'? I don't have the plant yet; it will probably be here next week.

The few Catts I have are not doing so good. I grow them on windowsills (east, south, and north windows) in the winter and put them outside in the spring through fall, un-protected from the elements and squirrels. So, they get pretty beat-up.

Pot. Shinfong Beauty 'Super Diamond' will be my very first red in the Catt family. I would greatly appreciate any pointers of how I could make my new addition thrive and happy.

Thanks much

P.S.
Not sure if I post this on the right spot.

[tucker85]

Where do you live?

[Optimist]

Perhaps some litle tabletop "cage" to kep the squirrels away. Hail stones and squirels and deer, possums, rabbits? I will be moving from squirrel free New Mexico, to squirrel over-run Misourii in 2-3 years. I wouldent mind putting up a 6 foot tall dog run in the yard with shade covering as an orchid house. Some of these net houses or screen houses look nice too. I also keep a few squirrel hating dogs around to scare the critters.

[GeorgiaVL]

Originally Posted by tucker85

Where do you live?

I live in the Washington DC area. I usually keep some of my heat tolerant orchids in my backyard. The squirrels love to hide nuts in the orchid pots; when they are playing chase, my orchids gets pushed shattering the pots. My neighbor suggested lethal action against the squirrels , but

So, for the new Catt I am thinking of keeping it indoors year round.

---------- Post added at 01:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:59 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Optimist

Perhaps some litle tabletop "cage" to kep the squirrels away. Hail stones and squirels and deer, possums, rabbits? I will be moving from squirrel free New Mexico, to squirrel over-run Misourii in 2-3 years. I wouldent mind putting up a 6 foot tall dog run in the yard with shade covering as an orchid house. Some of these net houses or screen houses look nice too. I also keep a few squirrel hating dogs around to scare the critters.

Hmmm... An outdoor cage for my orchids. I'll add it to my honey-do list

[tucker85]

I grow a lot of cattleyas but I don't have that one. Cattleyas like to dry quickly and stay dry for a day or two before watering again. For that reason you should have them in a small pot with a chunky mix that allows lots of air to the roots and dries quickly. Judge the hydration by the lead pseudo-bulb (the newest growth). The lead pseudo-bulb should be plump. If it's wrinkled, the plant needs to be watered a little more often. Don't worry about wrinkled pseudo-bulbs at the back of the plant. They prefer fairly bright light but need to be protected from the noon day sun or the leaves will burn. They need plenty of water and fertilizer during the summer growing season but much less in the fall and winter. I recommend using a fertilizer that contains calcium and magnesium as well as the normal macro-nutrients. Good luck.

[lexusnexus]

I live in the DC area as well and the critters do seem to be a bit pushy here. Have you been on the golf course and seen deer with that "what's your problem" look?

[GeorgiaVL]

Originally Posted by tucker85

I grow a lot of cattleyas but I don't have that one. Cattleyas like to dry quickly and stay dry for a day or two before watering again. For that reason you should have them in a small pot with a chunky mix that allows lots of air to the roots and dries quickly. Judge the hydration by the lead pseudo-bulb (the newest growth). The lead pseudo-bulb should be plump. If it's wrinkled, the plant needs to be watered a little more often. Don't worry about wrinkled pseudo-bulbs at the back of the plant. They prefer fairly bright light but need to be protected from the noon day sun or the leaves will burn. They need plenty of water and fertilizer during the summer growing season but much less in the fall and winter. I recommend using a fertilizer that contains calcium and magnesium as well as the normal macro-nutrients. Good luck.

Thank you

[Sharry]

Here just north of the beltway, I find that in the summer in sun most plants just get too hot. The balcony can get well over 100 F on a 75 F day. So I put them out but with dappled shade. The other mistake that I made was putting the out too early the cold nights and rain made for a lot of rotten roots.

[GeorgiaVL]

Originally Posted by lexusnexus

I live in the DC area as well and the critters do seem to be a bit pushy here. Have you been on the golf course and seen deer with that "what's your problem" look?

Wow! I did not notice that you are in the DC area. Oh and how I know about the critters around this area: squirrel, deer, groundhog, raccoon they are not afraid of people

---------- Post added at 01:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:24 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Sharry

Here just north of the beltway, I find that in the summer in sun most plants just get too hot. The balcony can get well over 100 F on a 75 F day. So I put them out but with dappled shade. The other mistake that I made was putting the out too early the cold nights and rain made for a lot of rotten roots.

Hi Sharry, oh yes the summer forecast for our area this year is hot and hotter. Thank goodness for my neighbor's huge oak tree that provides shade to my plants. Because of my orchids, I consider myself a weather stalker now. I learned my lessons after my orchid collections were killed by frost, because I did not pay attention to the weather. I watch the highs and the lows before I put my plants outside in the spring; I do the same in late fall.