two catts, two problems - Orchid Board

fishmommy · #1 12-03-2011, 06:37 PM

I usually have great luck with catts, but I have two giving me the business lately and am wondering what I am doing wrong.

Catt 1. It's a monofoliate and has bloomed reliably for years. This year I had two sheaths (sequential, not simultanious) and two buds each. Within a few days of the buds actually opening, they'd fall off. The stumps of the spikes are blackened.

Catt 2. Bifoliate. Sheaths plenty, but the sheaths turn brown and no spikes develop.

Light is about 3000Fc HPS. They are potted in plastic with medium bark. I water very lightly but every day. Some aerial roots are present on the monofoliate but no the bifolate. I recently repotted both and the roots looked fine.

Advice?

Merlyn · #2 12-03-2011, 07:22 PM

Catts like to dry out between watering. I've never heard of anyone watering every day. You might try skipping every other day for a while. JMHO !

fishmommy · #3 12-03-2011, 07:26 PM

I suspect that also...

fishmommy · #4 12-04-2011, 06:41 PM

heh, wouldn't ya know it but the bifoliate just produced a mass of buds from one of the brown and dessicated sheaths!

anyway, I'm going to cut down to once a week watering for the catts and let the pseudobulbs tell me if that's enough

tucker85 · #5 12-04-2011, 06:54 PM

Congratulations on the buds on your bifolate. As far as the other catt., I've grown a lot of cattleyas for many years and I find that bud drop just seems to happen occasionally. I've never been able to figure out why. When I read up on bud drop I found that it can be caused by too much water, too little water, temperature changes, too much fertilizer and a few other things I don't remember. Fungus problems around the sheath can cause the buds to fail also. It's a good idea not to change a plants location while it's in bud. Wait until the buds are mature and ready to open before moving it to a better location for viewing.

fishmommy · #6 12-04-2011, 07:22 PM

thanks!

yeah, it's funny - this monofoliate I have had for many years and never has it dropped buds before. Now four in one month! It's throwing a new leaf now so hopefully this one I can bring to fruition! This particular catt is my absolute favorite - blood red flowers with an incredible cinnamon scent.

Becca · #7 12-04-2011, 08:48 PM

Have you bloomed Catt#2 before? I know some Catts put out a sheath and it will brown and then bloom or bloom from that sheath the following year....or else it is not getting what it needs to bloom. Perhaps if you can tell us the name of Catt#2 it might be able to help us a little more to give you more accurate information.

fishmommy · #8 12-04-2011, 09:50 PM

catt #2 I have had for less than a year and have not bloomed it (until I hope, now! it has 6 buds that just appeared)
It's a Catt. skinneri 'Heidi Jacobs'

Becca · #9 12-04-2011, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishmommy

catt #2 I have had for less than a year and have not bloomed it (until I hope, now! it has 6 buds that just appeared)
It's a Catt. skinneri 'Heidi Jacobs'

Oh ok, I thought you said no spikes had developed! I some how missed the previous posts where you said you had flower buds appear! Looking forward to those bloom pics!