Is this Cattleya walkeriana?

[Neverend]

I got this plant from a Taiwanese vendor who said that it is a Cattleya walkeriana. After refering to photographs online however, I'm starting to doubt it is. Just from the leaves and pseudobulbs alone, can anyone guess what species it is? (I'm assuming it's a species of course)

It is potted in LECA with some sphagnum moss on top, as I repotted it from a soggy sphagnum moss medium it was originally in. I live in a wet tropical country, with relative humidity constantly around 60 -70 percent. Should I keep it this way or change the media?

[tucker85]

It looks like it could be walkeriana. The shape and size of the psuedobulbs looks right. You'll know better when it blooms. Walkeriana does not bloom from the top of the psuedobulb like other cattleyas. It blooms on a seperate spike that originates from the base of the psuedobulb. It will look like a new psuedobulb but it will be thinner. Also there are some crosses that retain the walkeriana shaped flower and it's odd way of blooming. So even after it blooms you may not know for sure that it's a species walkeriana. If you haven't grown them before, you'll love the fragrance.

[wonderlen3000]

Its C. walkeriana .... walkeriana usually has single leaf on mature bulbs, but sometime produced two leaf. The bulb shape can range from spindle shaped to mini-wiener and anywhere between, but typically swollen in the middle. The flower produced from one of the eyes, kindda like long rhizomes.

If u are living in wet tropical climate, i suggest u take it out and either mounted on cork or potted in flat clay pot). They like getting dry between watering, just like Vandas.

[Anglo]

Looks like a walkeriana to me also. The pictures you found online could have caused you some doubt because walkeriana plants don't all look exactly alike. Due to genetics as well as the culture and environment each one has grown in, there can be differences in the stockiness and/or length of the pseudobulbs, length and breadth of the leaves, and color -- some lighter green, some darker, some with red or purple pigmentations in the p-bulbs, etc.

[isurus79]

I also think it could be walkeriana, but you will have to wait until it flowers to know for sure. I think its potting is just fine. Plenty of air flow around the roots and it looks pretty healthy just the way it is.

[Neverend]

Thanks so much for the replies, people!

The current setup can dry up quite quickly, I see that the moss gets paper-dry sometimes. If they really need to dry up after some watering, I suppose it's fine?

I got worried because the pseudobulbs were really plump when I got it, and it started to shrivel and show wrinkles after repotting.

[Anglo]

Not too dry. A lot of the culture info you see on C. walkeriana over-stresses that the roots should be dry before the plants are watered again, and some sources say that they should be kept especially dry during the winter months. This advice has often resulted in dehydration and subsequent death of the roots.

They do well with frequent watering and fast drying, or even more continuous moisture, provided that the roots are well aerated. They don't need high humidity, but are not adapted to go for long periods without water. Even during the dry winter season in the natural habit, their roots become saturated with moisture each night as dew forms on them.

[Neverend]

Anglo: Noted. I tend to water my orchids everyday as long as I see the sphagnum moss is a tad dry, most of the time I end up killing orchids by rot from overwatering than dehydration.

That point you said about dew forming on the roots at night in the dry winters, that is really interesting...

[RGonzalez]

Originally Posted by Neverend

Anglo: Noted. I tend to water my orchids everyday as long as I see the sphagnum moss is a tad dry, most of the time I end up killing orchids by rot from overwatering than dehydration.

That point you said about dew forming on the roots at night in the dry winters, that is really interesting...

Your main concern is the orchid, not the moss. Study the area where you have the plants. Indoor, outdoor, shadehouse, mini greenhouse, solarium, etc. Increasing humidity is hard when in general is too low around, but somehow achivable when you put shade loving plants underneath the bench or hanging plants. Pebble trays if potted, etc.

[catwalker808]

{It is potted in LECA with some sphagnum moss on top, as I repotted it from a soggy sphagnum moss medium it was originally in. I live in a wet tropical country, with relative humidity constantly around 60 -70 percent. Should I keep it this way or change the media?

I got worried because the pseudobulbs were really plump when I got it, and it started to shrivel and show wrinkles after repotting.

I tend to water my orchids everyday as long as I see the sphagnum moss is a tad dry, most of the time I end up killing orchids by rot from overwatering than dehydration.}

Neverend.
Your plant does look like a C walkeriana, but not a very happy one. There are a couple of possible reasons why your plant looks dehydrated. First, because of insufficient water. But looking at the mint growing around your plant, your watering habits & your comments above, that's obviously not the case.

The probable cause is that you, or the vendor's soggy sphagnum in you wet conditions, have rotted out most of your roots ... or at least damaged them badly. In that small a pot, there should be visible roots. There are none. Without healthy roots, your plant would also become dehydrated. Pull out your plant & check your roots.

I would also suggest that you mount or put the plant in a basket. At the very least, with your humid growing conditions & your watering habits, you should get your plant off the mint bed & hang it. Your plant has no visible roots. The mint bed is a constant moisture source & your moss is like a moisture retaining mulch. Don't use the moss as the indicator for moisture. That's not where the roots are.

You don't really have a winter. What is important for your plant is good drainage & frequent watering, but let your roots air out & not stay soggy wet. In your climate, if your roots are exposed & dry out, don't be afraid to water. In a basket or on a mount, they won't stay & soggy.