HELP, HELP MY CATT.AND NEED I'D

[MisterOrchidGuy]

SO IBBOUGHT ARED CATTLEYA WHICH IS RM 18 AND IT HAS TONES OF GOOD ROOTSL LRFT BUT WILL IT SURVIVE WITH THE LITTLE LEAVES AND CAN IT SUPPORT THE FLOWER

[Optimist]

It looks a bit dessicated But otherwise healthy. Catts do not usually have many leaves Unless it is an older plant. The flowering leaves cannibalize the stored energy in the older leaves. Best to never cut leaves off because that is the prepared food source like fat on a person. The most important is look for eyes-- new growth. These are small triangle shaped buds coming from the base of the plant. This is next years leaf. Per year, they have only one or two leaves, ant the roots are live generally only where they are attached to the new leaf.

Your basket of bark looks good and airy. That is how catts like it.

[MisterOrchidGuy]

Umm.should I cut ghe flower spike cause the leaves are in bad shape and what is the id of this plant.this is not bark but it is coconut husk and charcowl and thanks

[silken]

Cattleya blooms don't last really long, so you might as well enjoy them. There are so many hybrids, it is impossible to say what it is other than a Cattleya hybrid. If it has a lot of good roots, it should be OK. Once the blooms are done, hopefully it will start putting our a new growth. They usually do that or more roots, depends on their heritage.

[MisterOrchidGuy]

Thank

[Optimist]

I have mine in rocks and they still grow well. Like silken said, compared to some the blooms don't last that long. The leaves won't plump back up. Encourage any new growth.

[MisterOrchidGuy]

How to encourage new growth and the leaves wont plump um. (Crying)

[Optimist]

Originally Posted by MisterOrchidGuy

How to encourage new growth and the leaves wont plump um. (Crying)

This is a type of orchid that blooms off of the newest growths. Old growths, the leaf and pseudobulb, which is the fleshy stem, feed the newer growths until they are all used up. Similar to bromiliads. In bromiliand only the new pups bloom when ready. After the bloom they live only to feed the new pups, but all thewhile are slowly dying. The process takes several years.

To encourage new growth, give the plant good care. Water and feed, give enough sun and drainage. I usually get one or two new pseudobulbs per year. Orchids grow very slowly. Only one or two new leaves per year.

There are good care instructions at this site. The one for your plant would be found in the cattleya alliance forums.

[silken]

One thing not to do is over water it. It is easy if the leaves are a bit limp or pseudo bulbs are shrivelled to water it too much thinking it needs water. Catts like to dry out in between watering and they need real good drainage and air to the roots. Sometime the older growths will not re-plump if they have become a bit shriveled. If in doubt when to water, put a bamboo kebab skewer down into the pot. Pull it out and see if it is wet or dry before deciding to water. It should be dry or very close to it.

[MisterOrchidGuy]

Oh.its raining here in malaysia.um the potting media is charcoal, cocopeat and phag moss.so how to not over water it and is it ok for me to remove the plant to check the rots and cocopeat wont dry if its raining and I have bad results with cattleya.the cattkeya is very expensive here and the only one in kelantan that I had ever seen so i jeed to save it cause I am scared if my father scolds ame