What is your experience in making Cattleyas bloom?

[StanTheMan]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Your outdoor space sounds good. If the sun is too indense, you can reduce it a bit with shade cloth. I would suggest not moving the plants outside right now, in winter. In spring, once nights warm up a little (consistently above 10-12 deg C) so that they can acclimate (and also gently acclimate to brighter light as well). Then they will have have the range of seasons, next winter will be no problem for many of them. (A plant where with a lot of C. dowiana in its background won't like the cold, but L. purpurata will have no problem at all) I grow most of my Catts outside all year - my winter lows are routinely around 4-5 deg C (approximately 38-40 deg F) and occasionally lower for a few hours. C. dowiana and luddemanniana are just about the only common ones that need winter warmth... I don't grow them, I don't have room in the greenhouse for big plants. But that leaves a lot that are fine outside... L (C) purpurata and relatives, C intermedia, C labiata, C. warneri, C. percivaliana.. the list goes on and on. Of course hybrids with any of these species are also fine with the cold.

I grow most of them under 50% or 60% shade cloth - but my yard gets intense summer sun for the whole day, with no trees, so I do need to "take the edge off" a little.

Alright, so the hybrid that is (RLC Chia Lin x Catt lueddemanniana) should stay indoors for winter, but the rest are fine outdoors, of course after gradually acclimating them in spring. I guess what I can do right now is gradually acclimate them to strong light since during winter is when I get direct sunlight on one side of the appartment. Those Catts are lovely and also in my list, so it is good knowing that! Thank you so much for your help

May you have a good year,

Stan.

---------- Post added at 09:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:41 PM ----------

Originally Posted by isurus79

Don't forget walkeriana will do just fine in those temps

Thank you, Isurus! I have an itch for these Catts, bifoliate with the walkeriana - loddigesii - nobilior. Their shape is just exquisite. Alright so back to the bucket list to bulk it up even more hahaa.

Cheers and you too have a good year,

Stan