Cattleya amethystoglossa seasons

[RosieC]

Wow, love that colour! Really stunning!

[Picotee]

Verrry nice! Love spotted catts and amethystoglossa is one of my all time favorites.

[smweaver]

Originally Posted by Oscarman

Nice Steve. I am curious about blooming size for this species, how tall is your plant?

Dave, this one, measured from the base of the largest pseudobulb to the top of the leaves, is just at 3 feet (the spike adds another 5 inches). The tallest plant I have is close to 4 feet high at this point, but I've read that they can get bigger.

[silken]

Originally Posted by smweaver

Dave, this one, measured from the base of the largest pseudobulb to the top of the leaves, is just at 3 feet (the spike adds another 5 inches). The tallest plant I have is close to 4 feet high at this point, but I've read that they can get bigger.

Yikes! I have a young one from H & R so I guess it will be a while before I see blooms!

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by silken

Yikes! I have a young one from H & R so I guess it will be a while before I see blooms!

I had mine bloom (from H&R) at about a foot and half, though I've seen H&R's 4N plants at shows which are pushing 5' tall and have canes that are about half as wide as my wrist!! They can get pretty big!!!

[smweaver]

Originally Posted by isurus79

I've seen H&R's 4N plants at shows which are pushing 5' tall and have canes that are about half as wide as my wrist!!

I would love to see one of these guys that large and robust. Maybe I need to start being more generous with the fertilizer during the summer. I think I'm kind of stingy with the fertilizer because of the theory that was drilled into me a couple of decades ago that orchids don't get (or need) a lot of fertilizer in the wild and therefore shouldn't receive a lot in cultivation.

This is getting a little off topic, but has anyone else had good results from "pushing" their cattleyas with moderate feedings during the growing season?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by smweaver

This is getting a little off topic, but has anyone else had good results from "pushing" their cattleyas with moderate feedings during the growing season?

I fertilize the crap out of mine! lol

I also push seedlings in the winter by not letting up on the watering schedule when they should be 'resting.' It helps get them to blooming size a bit quicker and gives them a larger root system to work with, which also helps in blooming. You have to have warm temps to it safely though.

[silken]

Originally Posted by isurus79

I had mine bloom (from H&R) at about a foot and half, though I've seen H&R's 4N plants at shows which are pushing 5' tall and have canes that are about half as wide as my wrist!! They can get pretty big!!!

Mine is a 4N one from H & R. I figured it would just be more robust and maybe bloom earlier. Didn't think it would get to that size! I might have to build it it's own greenhouse!