Cattleya luteola - Page 2 - Orchid Board

RosieC · #11 10-06-2014, 09:01 AM

Lovely!

cbuchman · #12 10-06-2014, 11:09 AM

Lovely! I have one, but no blooms yet. 2 beautiful new growths this year, but no sheaths. (It had 3 new growths to start, but I think the third was too much for it) I'm thinking it isn't big enough to bloom yet. I have mine in a tiny (2") clay pot. I found that I wasn't giving it enough water last winter and so it was languishing. now it gets soaked regularly and then allowed to dry, but not dry for too long before soaking it again.

Any other advice you can offer? I have a tree fern slab I could put it on; or cork. Would that be better? I'm worried I might not be able to keep it moist enough when the humidity drops in winter here. At the same time, mounted means less root disturbance overall.

I really like this one and want to see it thrive!!! I need flowers!

TOMMYMIAMI · #13 10-06-2014, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbuchman

Lovely! I have one, but no blooms yet. 2 beautiful new growths this year, but no sheaths. (It had 3 new growths to start, but I think the third was too much for it) I'm thinking it isn't big enough to bloom yet. I have mine in a tiny (2") clay pot. I found that I wasn't giving it enough water last winter and so it was languishing. now it gets soaked regularly and then allowed to dry, but not dry for too long before soaking it again.

Any other advice you can offer? I have a tree fern slab I could put it on; or cork. Would that be better? I'm worried I might not be able to keep it moist enough when the humidity drops in winter here. At the same time, mounted means less root disturbance overall.

I really like this one and want to see it thrive!!! I need flowers!

Carrie, in general I do not like potted Cats here in Florida at all - due to our high humidity and crazy rains I lost many and they did not thrive. This one seems to love being mounted on the cork slab, and it is mounted horizontal and the whole mount is wired to balcony railing, so this baby gets any rain there is, and also direct late afternoon sun. I did have some moss around roots but than I did remove it, and it is doing just fine. I do water it whenever I see roots are dry, and fertilize regular, with adding seaweed and MagiCal. If I have any Cats potted, which is only few, I am using the mix that was recommended by one great Cat Florida grower (member here), and it is 60% chipped cork, plus 20% medium size bark, and few lava stones. I must say this works magic for them, and when potted in this mix and wood basket,the healthy roots are all over the pot!

cbuchman · #14 10-06-2014, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

Carrie, in general I do not like potted Cats here in Florida at all - due to our high humidity and crazy rains I lost many and they did not thrive. This one seems to love being mounted on the cork slab, and it is mounted horizontal and the whole mount is wired to balcony railing, so this baby gets any rain there is, and also direct late afternoon sun. I did have some moss around roots but than I did remove it, and it is doing just fine. I do water it whenever I see roots are dry, and fertilize regular, with adding seaweed and MagiCal. If I have any Cats potted, which is only few, I am using the mix that was recommended by one great Cat Florida grower (member here), and it is 60% chipped cork, plus 20% medium size bark, and few lava stones. I must say this works magic for them, and when potted in this mix and wood basket,the healthy roots are all over the pot!

Hmm, after your reading your advice. I think I might go with a net basket. I can also put it inside a clay pot if it dries out too fast. It also means that I can cut the basket away to minimize root disturbance in the future. This makes sense to me as I think mounted might be too dry here in Northern NJ. Once new growth starts in the Spring, this will be the plan.

I water regularly with MSU and add MagiCal supplement about every 2-3 week (more when actively growing). I find my Catts and Oncs really need the added calcium. I also use KLN every 4-6 weeks in the spring & summer to kick start the new growth and roots. I find it makes a huge difference.

Thanks for your input!

TOMMYMIAMI · #15 10-06-2014, 06:47 PM

Very welcome Carrie and best of luck.

isurus79 · #16 10-06-2014, 11:16 PM

Nice! This one will probably open up a bit more for you over the next few days.

TOMMYMIAMI · #17 10-07-2014, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isurus79

Nice! This one will probably open up a bit more for you over the next few days.

Thanks Steve:-) It is open more now, but I could not wait to take the pics, excited and also, this one is mounted to the railing, hanging off the balcony, so the chance birds, lizards or strong wind can break it before I have some pics scared me :-)

CA2FLxplant · #18 10-21-2014, 11:02 AM

Amazing! You have a wonderful collection!!

TOMMYMIAMI · #19 10-21-2014, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CA2FLxplant

Amazing! You have a wonderful collection!!

Many thanks

stefpix · #20 11-11-2014, 10:55 AM

I have one and blooms more than once a year.
In a net pot with clay pellets and moss, wedged in a clay pot.

I think it likes a lot of water , almost stay wet when the temperatures are warm. Lost some roots when the temperatures dropped, pretty easy to grow and flower in my conditions