C. dowiana - clues on mature growth

[piping plover]

Hi all. I know that this species needs a dry warm season after growth matures and I don’t want to get the culture wrong by watering when I should not be. Does this growth look mature and ready for the rest season? Should I wait until the papery sheath dries up? Trying to verify the clues to look for.

I don’t think it will bloom this season with no bud sheath. It did grow 3 or 4x larger than the previous growth so I think my indoor lights were really effective thus far.

[Clawhammer]

When the temp drops, reduce watering.

[isurus79]

Looks mature to me

[piping plover]

This cattleya dowiana continues to confound me. It has never stopped growing since I received it from ecuagenera last May (I think it was the southern hemisphere to northern hemisphere change as our daylight continued to increase when it arrived in RI.)

So, the growth finally matured a few weeks ago and I’m getting ready to give its dry/dormant regime—-and i just found a new growth swelling. Why won’t it go to sleep already? I know I should be happy that it’s growing but why won’t my crazy dowiana get with the program?

I’m thinking of not watering it for 6 weeks unless that is a bad idea with growth swelling again.

Been trying to follow Mr. Chadwick’s cultural advice “… In the Northern Hemisphere, C. dowiana begins growing in early spring, flowers in mid- to late summer and, after flowering, goes dormant until the following spring. It requires frequent watering when it is actively growing, but little water after flowering until it begins growing in the spring.”

[Roberta]

I think you need to evaluate the "dormancy" concept with Cattleyas with a lot of "yes but" skepticism. Catts don't go dormant in the way that Catasetinae and other highly seasonal orchids do. They may grow less at some times of year than others, but if they're growing, they are doing what they want. In habitat, they may get less rain (not "none") but they don't go really dry - there is humidity, and dew.

Also note a bit of geography... Ecuador is squarely on the equator. (One can stand with one foot in northern hemisphere and the other in the southern) So while there is some seasonality due to rain patterns ("wet" and "dry" are a matter of degree) there's not going to be a big effect on a Cattleya.There's also essentially no seasonality with respect to light, days and nights are equal all year around. (C. dowiana isn't native to Ecuador, it has adapted to an equatorial climate) If it's growing, water it.

[piping plover]

Thank you Roberta for the thorough reply on this. Much appreciated! That is enlightening and does makes sense to me.

Originally Posted by Roberta

I think you need to evaluate the "dormancy" concept with Cattleyas with a lot of "yes but" skepticism. Catts don't go dormant in the way that Catasetinae and other highly seasonal orchids do. They may grow less at some times of year than others, but if they're growing, they are doing what they want. In habitat, they may get less rain (not "none") but they don't go really dry - there is humidity, and dew.

Also note a bit of geography... Ecuador is squarely on the equator. (One can stand with one foot in northern hemisphere and the other in the southern) So while there is some seasonality due to rain patterns ("wet" and "dry" are a matter of degree) there's not going to be a big effect on a Cattleya.There's also essentially no seasonality with respect to light, days and nights are equal all year around. (C. dowiana isn't native to Ecuador, it has adapted to an equatorial climate) If it's growing, water it.

[Louis_W]

Originally Posted by Roberta

If it's growing, water it.

I agree with this sentiment for Cattleya. I dont have dowiana so perhaps I should keep my mouth shut, but when my Cattleya need a rest, they stop growing for a couple months. I follow their lead

[Jeff214]

I grow many of my cattleyas indoors and under lights (that never change duration... ) and seedlings just seem to grow non stop (dowiana and others). Once mature... they do seem to flower during the "typical" time of year, rest, grow, and starting following that pattern. Just my observation.

I've yet to flower my dowianas so who knows!

[piping plover]

Thanks Louis. I just misted the roots and will continue watering it as grows.

Originally Posted by Louis_W

I agree with this sentiment for Cattleya. I dont have dowiana so perhaps I should keep my mouth shut, but when my Cattleya need a rest, they stop growing for a couple months. I follow their lead

---------- Post added at 09:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:11 PM ----------

Thanks Jeff. Yes, I noticed that too. This is my first year growing with lights in a real serious way and everything is growing like it’s non-stop summer. Orchids readily putting out vigorous roots in December. What was interesting is that I’ve never been able get a cutting from my common garden basil to last the winter indoors, well not only is it alive it is thriving (under the lights ) like it was outdoors on my deck in the summer. Amazing! This tells me these are really good lights for growing.

This will be the year we each get our dowianas to bloom!

Originally Posted by Jeff214

I grow many of my cattleyas indoors and under lights (that never change duration... ) and seedlings just seem to grow non stop (dowiana and others). Once mature... they do seem to flower during the "typical" time of year, rest, grow, and starting following that pattern. Just my observation.

I've yet to flower my dowianas so who knows!

[My Green Pets]

Lots of good info here.

I've grown Cattleya rex from flask since 2014, and just got some dowianas a couple of years ago.

As Roberta, Jeff and others have already mentioned, resting will come once the plant is mature and flowering. Once the plant enters this cycle, you should see the different phases pretty clearly. You'll notice it doesn't do much growing after flowering, but it depends on the plant. Some of mine put out one or two smaller, non-blooming growths in the autumn after flowering.

The advice to keep watering during active growth is sound. So is the suggestion to be very wary of temperatures. Lately the number I'm seeing a lot is minimum 65F/18C for dowiana. If you're staying above that, and hopefully getting the plants warmer during the day (80F/27C), I see no reason why you can't continue 'growing season' conditions.

Currently one of my dowiana rositas is putting out a fat new growth, while its sibling has been sitting quietly doing nothing for a few months. So, I water the growing one more, and the resting one less.

One last observation, the plants' roots can continue to grow and branch vigorously during this rest period. I think that to keep them happy requires a certain amount of moisture as well. Maybe high humidity is enough, but mine get sprayed at least twice a week.