Bc. maikai "mayumi" growing but never blooms!

[kkdcalgary]

Dear OB-goers;

I have a very healthy Bc. maikai "mayumi" that was advertised as a prolific bloomer and grower. While it has grown to a very nice size (it's in an 8 inch terracotta pot and is filling it out nicely) it has never bloomed though it has 4 leads with 2-3 growths on each since I've gotten it. It's in filtered direct sun and has lots of green root tips. I had flower sheaths on it when I bought it so I think it flowered before. Help!

[silken]

Sorry, I'm not much help other than to say they like quite high light. I think more than some cattleya types. I have one too that is likely specimen size and many new growths but hasn't bloomed in the year I have had it. So I would like to hear some tips! I know others who bloom them in a window and mine is in the greenhouse, although I have just recently started giving it more light directly from the sun. It was under T5's before.

[tucker85]

I would recommend increasing the light if you have a way of doing that. Mine gets 70% sunlight on a screened patio (in bright, sunny Florida). It blooms with a few flowers a couple times a year and then blooms with many flowers in Nov/Dec.

[Oscarman]

Totally agree with tucker = more light.

[vjo]

I haveone of those too,not much experience with them but will tell you what I think.Mine is in an 8" plastic pot I put it outside in vey bright shade in the summer, in the winter it is in the basement under lights. My plant is very big about 2 1/2 feet across it might like being pot bound. It has probably at least
100 stems. I may have to repot this year. Yours will probably start putting out sheaths soon, dont expect anything even then. When you bring it inside in the fall try to give it all the light you can in the daytime and COMPLETE darkness at night. Mine had over 70 blooms on it last blooming and smelled ohhh soooo good. Good luck and I hope this helped...Jean

[isurus79]

Yep, more light! I had this one blooming very nicely in a 4" pot and it got TONS of light outside in Hawaii. Slowly increase the light if you can. Don't just throw it in a brighter situation. Think of it as a pale skinned person going out to the pool in summer. They need to slowly adjust to the bright conditions otherwise they burn!!

[kkdcalgary]

Steve;

Growing in Texas how do you keep the humidity up?? Or are you in Hawai'i now?

Karen.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by kkdcalgary

Steve;

Growing in Texas how do you keep the humidity up?? Or are you in Hawai'i now?

Karen.

I grew this plant when I was in Hawaii. I've been in Texas now for just over a year. But to be quite honest, the humidity is usually higher here than it was on the leeward sides of the islands. The humidity was usually in the 60% range in Honolulu and is much higher this year here in Austin. Even last summer when the temps were well over 100 degrees everyday for months on end, my Catts thrived in the heat. I had to water them 2x per day and they were under some pretty heavy shade cloth (here is the link: http://www.orchidboard.com/community...tin-texas.html), but I got amazing growth for the season. If you can get your plants outside for the summer, you'll be amazed at how well they do!! Especially the Catts.

[dounoharm]

LOTS MORE LIGHT! catts need a ton of light to perform well....so much you think you will cook em almost....now that said, dont throw them out in the sun, gradually get it used to more light! like stated above, it will burn if you toss it out directly.....but more light will get you the blooms you desire! gl