How to bloom Cattleya amethystoglossa ?

[tucker85]

Has anyone had any luck blooming c. amethystoglossa? I've had one for a couple of years. It's very healthy and grows well but it's never bloomed. Does anyone know the secret to blooming these?

[smweaver]

Lots of light, water, heat and humidity in the summer growing season, followed by a fairly dry and intermediate-to-cool winter rest. I've had mine for many years and, with this treatment, it flowers reliably every spring. The sheath will form at the end of the growing season, but the plant will then begin a long dormancy, at which point the sheath will dry out. This is normal, so don't cut the sheath off. If you can give it direct sunlight throughout the winter, as well as allowing it to completely dry out between waterings from anywhere between 3 and 10 days at a time (while withholding fertiziler), buds will begin to push up through the dry sheath in the late winter/early spring. Good luck!

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by smweaver

Lots of light, water, heat and humidity in the summer growing season, followed by a fairly dry and intermediate-to-cool winter rest. I've had mine for many years and, with this treatment, it flowers reliably every spring. The sheath will form at the end of the growing season, but the plant will then begin a long dormancy, at which point the sheath will dry out. This is normal, so don't cut the sheath off. If you can give it direct sunlight throughout the winter, as well as allowing it to completely dry out between waterings from anywhere between 3 and 10 days at a time (while withholding fertiziler), buds will begin to push up through the dry sheath in the late winter/early spring. Good luck!

I agree with everything that Steve said. I would definitely emphasis the part about high light. I used to grow this in full sun for most of the day in Hawaii and it thrived.