Cattleya Dowiana

[Scott WPH]

I still can't believe it, but I was able to purchase a C. Dowiana that was in bloom for less than 100.00. So, it arrived safely, but shipping took a toll on the blooms. I have since removed the blooms. It is currently in a plastic, hanging pot and is outdoors for the summer. It gets about 4-5 hours of full, morning sun and I am watering every other morning with rain water. I noticed that new roots were forming and low and behold, yesterday afternoon, I noticed a new growth forming from the last mature pseudobulb.

I thought that these plants only started new growths in the Spring, after a dryer rest in the winter. I was cautious to water very much at all after it bloomed for fear I would cause rot.

Should I fertilize this plant now that its started a new growth? Do I continue to water every other morning since it seems to be doing very well?

I attempted to grow one of these before and promptly killed it with too much water and fertlize at the wrong time of year I think.

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

[Ray]

They need food when actively growing...

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Scott WPH

I attempted to grow one of these before and promptly killed it with too much water and fertlize at the wrong time of year I think.

It probably depends on what media you use and how much air circulation you have. I grow all my established catts in scoria rock pieces, very good drainage pot, under conditions of good air circulation and tropical environment ----- and can definitely water as much as I like - with 1 important condition considered. That is - sometimes ...... not all the time....but sometimes, whenever I think fitting, I let the pots and roots dry right out --- which cuts down on unwanted situations inside the pot from developing - like certain kinds of bacteria, fungus, algae, water stagnation in pockets etc.

So, what has worked excellently for me is --- roots wet most of the time, while ensuring good air-circulation to roots. Then every now and again, I let the pot (and hence roots) dry right out. This stops whatever undesirable things from occurring inside the pot.

Just writing this because the words 'too much water' needs to be understood in the right way. Eg. media and roots wet all the time - can lead to organic media breakdown/rotting, and unwanted things growing or building up in the pot and around the roots. And localised regions of trapped water between root and media can lead to stagnation and then rotting etc.