Cattleya (Sophronitis) brevipedunculata

[Lil Duck]

Hello all
I recently bought a C. brevipedunculata from Brookside Orchids. After consulting Roberta who also grows this plant, I planned on first growing it inside for a little bit and then moving it outside on a warm winter night in the 50s. I am now questioning this plan after I received this plant as it has three new growths, a maturing pseudobulb, and what appears to be a flower sheath. As this plant is in active growth I am wondering if it is still appropriate to move this plant outside where it would experience temperatures that it would only really experience during its resting/ flowering season. If anyone with orchid wiz could share the temperature data for this particular species that would be greatly appreciated.

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[Roberta]

I would definitely ask the vendor under what temperature conditions it has been growing. That's a gorgeous plant! This time of year, even though it can grow cool, that's with being acclimated. When I acquire a plant in winter, I usually pamper it indoors until nights warm up even if it is capable of growing cool, if it has been in a sheltered controlled environment.

[Lil Duck]

The vendor had been growing it with 60 degree nights but that was because they were miss ided as dendrobiums, they recommended growing it in the low 50s. What I was really asking about is if I should still put It outside in the cold when it is in active growth.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Lil Duck

The vendor had been growing it with 60 degree nights but that was because they were miss ided as dendrobiums, they recommended growing it in the low 50s. What I was really asking about is if I should still put It outside in the cold when it is in active growth.

I'd say "No". Next winter, after it has been growing outside through the full range of seasons, it will be fine. But I would not want to shock it by putting out it now after it has been growing that warm. In Brazil it's summer - it may have its seasons already adjusted or maybe not. Growing it relatively warm won't hurt it
(it seems to be growing very well), shocking it with a sudden change could be harmful. IF it were my plant I would not take the chance.

[Lil Duck]

I have another question, when do C. brevipedunculata form new roots, before or after the pseudobulb matures. I would like to repot soon as one direction of growth is up against the side of the pot, another is about 5 mm from the side and the last two are about 1 cm from the side. Quite a full little plant indeed

[Roberta]

Maybe someone here knows... I don't have a clue. Best I could suggest is to just observe. A note, like the rest of what used to be Sophronitis, the buds emerge from the new growth just as the leaves open (no noticeable sheath) so lots going on at the same time.

[PuiPuiMolcar]

Heya, I have C. brevipedunculata I bought from Andy's for about half a year now. He grows his orchid outdoor under shade, this one (pict related) was in one of the outdoor area, where night time temp drow to 40s around this season. My area have the similar temp but I still wouldn't put mine outside simply because it would dry way too fast for me to keep up. I kept mine around 60-75 indoor with light wind from the mini fans and it is doing fine for me.
As for growth, I'm not too sure because I purchased it when it was in bloom which was in late winter, and the bulb did grew a bit bigger afterward. The mount I got along with it was just full of moss so it was hard for me to noticed any root activity. One of the clerk from Andy and the internet says the brevipedunculata are among the easiest of the sophronitis

[RJSquirrel]

good luck.

[Lil Duck]

I just re potted it into a 3 inch pot from a 2.5 inch pot. it seems like this was a seedling pot because the bark was small seedling sized bark, they also put a few packing peanuts in the center to dry out faster. in the new pot I put a mixture of medium and large sized bark along with another packing peanut. It appears that C. brevipedunculata grows new roots before the pseudobulb matures, although the new roots appear to be growing from between the pseudobulbs. Oh well

[Akhenaten]

Originally Posted by Lil Duck

It appears that C. brevipedunculata grows new roots before the pseudobulb matures, although the new roots appear to be growing from between the pseudobulbs. Oh well

Almost all of my sophronitis grow roots after the bulb has matured. A new sprout → then it blooms → then the roots, then a new sprout. This is the Way

---------- Post added at 09:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:17 PM ----------

Originally Posted by PuiPuiMolcar

Heya, I have C. brevipedunculata I bought from Andy's for about half a year now.

The shape of the flower is fantastically flawless