Catt's not blooming ever

[ginnyr]

I've had a couple of cattelayas for 3-4 years now and while one gave me a bloom once, the others have not produced a bloom ever. I have them in a South facing window and they get bright but indirect sun. At this point the largest definitely needs separating and repotting but the other 2 do not. All my orchids (I also have 3 phals which bloom almost continuously) are watered with a weak fertilizer solution and the Catts are watered only when they appear dry. That could be a week or even 10 days apart. Any suggestions as to how I can get the Catts to bloom?

[Dorothy]

What is the N-P-K of the fertilizer you use? .. High nitrogen will impede blooming ..

[ginnyr]

Uh Oh....it's 20-16-15. I bought it from Norman's Orchids but as you advised, it would appear that it's too high in nitrogen. I'll have to see if I can find a new one that's lower in Nitrogen. Thank you, thank you!!

[masda]

Catts like a wet/dry watering programme. ten days apart seems a bit long especially if the potting mix is dry, in the warm season they should be watered twice a week. Try a bloom booster fertilizer at the start of the flowering season, if they are large plants they may require a stronger feed.

[ginnyr]

Dorothy/Masda,

Can you recommend a fertilizer and where to buy it?

Masda, I check the 'soil' in the pots and if it seems dry I water. A lot of times tho, it's still pretty moist. 2 of them have some kind of moss covering the roots.

[whygreenberg]

Could it be, tho, that they just aren't quite getting enough light? They don't get any direct sun? That'd be the first thing I'd consider before getting too worried about what fertilizer you're using. Is there some way you can gradually increase the amount of sunlight they get?

[nenella]

I have about 6 catts and they are all in a south facing window(with net curtain in front) I too only water when 'dry'' 7/10 days in my conditions and mine flower regularly since I got them ). I think the 'watering' really depends on what medium they are in? I use the skewer method. and yes, I change to a higher potassium fertilizer once the sheath starts forming... just my 2 cents worth.

[Dorothy]

Read more about fertilizers here at First Ray's - Fertilizers & Plant Nutrition
You can use your fertilizer by using Ray's Calculator to determine your nitrogen amount at about 125ppm - optimal for most orchids ..
When I put in your nitro number of 20 - Targeting 125ppm - you can dilute 0.47 or about 1/2 Teaspoon Fertilizer per Gallon of Water (see the following link and scroll all the way to the bottom) - Fertilizer PPM Calculator

[ginnyr]

Nenella,
Right now they are on my deck and get a good amount of sun in the afternoon.
I'm not familiar with the skewer method. Can you fill me in?

All: The sunlight they receive when I bring them back in is pretty strong without being scorching. I moved them into that room as someone else suggested the light factor as a cause.

[ginnyr]

Oh my, Dorothy! that's a big daunting (the articles on plant nutrition). I think I'll use your simple formula and just add 1/2 teaspoon to a gallon and be done with it LOL. Thank you for the info and when I bring them all in, in a few weeks, I'll use that formula for all of the orhids and pray that between the sunnier locale and the fertilizer (plus the repotting of the larger one), I will be rewarded with a beautiful bloom or two!