Need culture advice on C. jenmanii x C. percivaliana

[Tindomul]

Hi all,
Cattleya jenmanii 'Majestic ' x C. percivaliana 'Summit'
I have had this orchid for exactly a year now. It bloomed when I first got it, but in that entire year, has barely grown a single root. It put out a new leaf, but the top half is black, almost as if it had gotten burned. It get some strong sunlight in the early morning ours, filtered by windows and blinds at times, and in the last few months less light. So I doubt its sunburn.
I just don't know what Im doing wrong. I keep it potted in bark, carbon, and expanded clay pellets mix topped by some sphagnum. The sphagnum dries out every other day so I mist it every other morning. Is there a special temperature requirement for this orchid that I don't know about? Thanks.
I have also failed miserably at keeping C. jenmanii and even though I have three cuttings of C. percivaliana, none are really taking off. HELP!!!

[Brooke]

Your jenmanii and percivaliana cross has a grex name of C. David Sanders now.

I have all three of these and I would guess it is lack of light for the poor performance. I grow these in a g/h with 50% shade cloth during the summer and unrestricted during the winter. All three of my plants are in sheath/buds now. Temps never below 60.

The jenmanii is a catt that doesn't have a distinct rest period. The percie rests after bloom. I water the cross in a normal manner, no rest period.

Is it a mature leaf that is half black or is it a new growth that is half black? I also don't know what you mean by cuttings of the percie. Are these old pbulbs you are trying to regrow from dormant eyes?

This info wasn't much help but hopefully it will give you a clue and improve future growth:>)

Brooke

[Tindomul]

Hi, thanks for the response. Each cutting has about 4 pseudobulbs. I have three such divisions of C. percivaliana. Thanks for the tip of lighting. I guess I really don't have enough. Especially now in the winter time. I will see if I can grow them under lights.

[Tindomul]

P.S. the half black leaf is a new leaf.

[Brooke]

I got two old pbulbs I removed when I repotted my big percie to sprout a new growth by potting it in a small clay pot, with p'nuts half filling the bottom, in sphag/tree fern mix. I watered the mix and let it get bone dry, rewatered, etc. I kept it in very bright light.

The new growth probably turned black when you got water lodged inside the growth. If the black has stopped, it won't hurt future growth. Blooming, that I don't know.

Give them as much light as possible short of burning them and you will see improvement.

Brooke

[Tindomul]

[font="Palatino Linotype"]Thanks, I will try that. I probably did get water when the leaf was starting to open. The necrosis has stopped. Thanks a million! You just gave me hope for what is likely my most beautiful bloomer.