Cattleya walkeriana frm. Coerulea -- rippled leaves?

[MJG]

I recently acquired this orchid. It is cattleya walkeriana frm. coerulea (CH #3 Edward x sib 'coerulea 'OE'). Its leaves have ripples that I have never seen on a cattleya.

Is this normal for this variety? If not, any suggestions?

Thanks.

[isurus79]

Looks dehydrated

[SouthPark]

MJG ----- the waviness is definitely due to the plant not getting enough water --- sometimes due to roots having too much water, sometimes just due to not enough watering.

If all the roots are good ------ including the ones tucked within the sphagnum, then the plant should recover if a suitable watering schedule is applied. The leaves themselves will probably permanently retain the wavy or corrugated effect. But they can survive just fine like that. Any new shoots and leaves are expected to look regular - provided that watering schedule is suitable.

The pseudobulbs all looking very shriveled needs to be addressed quickly. Definitely have to check roots and watering schedule.

[MJG]

This orchid arrived like this about a month ago. I just repotted it. It appears to have viable roots. No rot. Dry if anything.

I've been watering as the roots get almost but not quite dry. It hasn't improved. I've been afraid of keeping the roots wet for fear of rotting them. Is there a way to intensively rehydrate it?

The other thing I wonder about is the use of lights. Could being too close to an led light exacerbate this?

[Roberta]

The LED light is no doubt warm... that may actually be dehydrating the leaves faster than the roots can hydrate them. You're correct, you don't want to have the roots stay wet. But you should water them well (maybe even soak for 5 minutes or so), then let them drain and dry out. If you can get it better hydrated, the ripples may or may not go away. Often, you have to wait for new growth to see the issue corrected.

[Merita]

I bought an equal or smaller one and it also looked like this. Before six months she suddenly blossomed, she already has new leaves without any problem but the affected leaves did not recover.

[Fairorchids]

Before I knew better, I tried to grow C. walkeriana in pots with spaghnum. While this worked for most Cattleya under my watering schedule at the time, it slowly killed several walkerianas.

This species does not like to 'sit' in a moist environment. It should be watered in the morning, and dry by noon.

I currently grow smaller plants in net pots, and larger plants in baskets with some Aliflor (LECA) nuggets for the roots to hold on to.

Now plants are growing larger, rather than smaller.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

Before I knew better, I tried to grow C. walkeriana in pots with spaghnum. While this worked for most Cattleya under my watering schedule at the time, it slowly killed several walkerianas.

This species does not like to 'sit' in a moist environment. It should be watered in the morning, and dry by noon.

I currently grow smaller plants in net pots, and larger plants in baskets with some Aliflor (LECA) nuggets for the roots to hold on to.

Now plants are growing larger, rather than smaller.

I've actually had better success with the slow growing Catts by watering in the evening (when they respire) and having them dry early the next day.

[MJG]

Based on all of the feedback and a couple of other threads, I am going to set this orchid with its roots on top of some leca in a clay pot. I may add a little sphagnum. That way I can water daily and have the roots dry the same day. I'm hoping the daily flush of water will allow me to rehydrate without rotting the roots.

I always thought a cattleya was a cattleya. C. Walkeriana sounds like a different animal. I learn something new from this board every day.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by MJG

I always thought a cattleya was a cattleya. C. Walkeriana sounds like a different animal. I learn something new from this board every day.

C. walkeriana is, indeed, a little different. One of the weird things about it is that often (but not all the time) it will produce a growth with just a flower spike emerging from the middle of a very small leaf. Sometimes it will bloom at one point of the year from this "dedicated" growth, and then later, bloom from a "normal" growth. But if you get a strange little pseudobulb, don't panic - it's just doing its "walkeriana thing" and possibly getting ready to bloom.