Cattleya cernua

[orchidsarefun]

mine goes outdoors when temps are consistently about 60f. I think I found the perfect spot hanging in a shrub - with morning and then late afternoon sun. I hardly ever have to hose water it as rainfall seems sufficient. Then its back indoors into a shaded south-facing window for the rest of the year. Temps in the heated room don't go below 70f but do do go higher when its sunny outdoors. I have seen up to 85f....
However I think mine is kept cooler at the roots because of the mount and the mount stand. I have it hanging on a bottle full of playground sand and that is always a lot cooler. The roots touch the bottle in places..and still do well.
The cork mount has a number of holes through it and the roots crowded through. This was mounted in April 2012 and I think I cut the binding within 6 months as the roots are that strong. There is no moss backing.
As for watering - its roughly 1x per week and I drench water, using a small watering can, until the roots go green. The cork dries almost instantly. See photos.
I usually had 3 growths per year, now there's a 4th - in the middle of the plant- so my conditions in the last year must be just right.

[Leafmite]

Nice to see your blooms! Your roots look really great! My cernua's roots never look that great. I think it might be because I forget about it most of the time. :|

[isurus79]

Thanks for the cultural info!

[Harris E.]

My cernua came yesterday. I'm going to mount it on a piece of cork I've been saving as soon as it roots. If anyone from the SF Bay Area is growing this I'd love to hear about your experience. I don't grow a ton of species.

[Leafmite]

I am not from SF but, for me, this one has been very easy...so easy I usually forget completely that I have one until it blooms.

[orchidsarefun]

Originally Posted by Harris E.

My cernua came yesterday. I'm going to mount it on a piece of cork I've been saving as soon as it roots. If anyone from the SF Bay Area is growing this I'd love to hear about your experience. I don't grow a ton of species.

Drill a couple of scattered small diameter holes through the cork. The roots soon find them and crowd through. Its easier to water when the roots are able to spread out easily and are not covered by leaves. You can see by the photos - front side, roots so-so green - backside, roots nice and green when watered. The roots definitely prefer the smoother side, where its also darker ( less light ).

[No-Pro-mwa]

What a cutie.

[orchidsarefun]

An update. There are at least 6 new growths and a lot of new root development. I have started fertilizing ( very weakly ) and watering 2x per week.
The seedlings don't appear to be doing that well - maybe because they are slow growers anyway - but I think I haven't been watering them sufficiently. Also upgraded to 2x per week and we'll see if that's a help.

[Helene]

Wow- like how the roots seem to like the holes you made, really nice mount😊

Lovely flower and the plant looks so cute and healthy😃👌🏻

I think the seedlings looks healthy, but never seen any to compare with though- so dont know.

[u bada]

that's a great little specimen, could appreciate your growing tips as well... Mine's been sitting there doing nothing for a year... actually it' blasted two new growths within that year, darn thing! So jealous!