How to Grow Cattleya bowringiana
ALTHOUGH Cattleya bowringiana is probably the easiest of all the Cattleya species to grow, it does have its preferred conditions. Like most Cattleya species, it benefits from lots of sun and air and, when actively growing, should receive an abundance of water. Many growers under-pot these plants so they can be watered more often and still not develop a sour, soggy medium. This means you allow only enough space in the pot for one year’s growth instead of the usual two years.
Cattleya bowringiana can be repotted at almost any time of the year, but the best time is when new roots begin to emerge from the swollen base of the lead pseudobulb. When repotting, it is important to keep the bottom of the swollen base of the lead pseudobulb level with the surface of the medium and not below it. The “eyes,” which produce the new growths, are set quite low on C. bowringiana, and when they are covered with medium, the new growth will sometimes rot as it begins to grow.
In the United States, Cattleya bowringiana will send out new growths in late May or June that will mature by late summer. The plants will flower without a rest period in late September and October. The number of flowers produced on a flower spike depends on the overall size and strength of the new pseudobulb. The taller and more robust the pseudobulbs, the more flowers you will get. Flower color is also enriched on strong pseudobulbs and the flowers will last longer — up to 31/2 weeks instead of 21/2 weeks. — A.A. Chadwick.
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That said, my bowringiana is already putting up new growth and it's only January!!
It's a very old plant that was given to me years ago and it was already old then!
It has always started new growth early in the year even when I grew it in the house. It now resides in the greenhouse in a 14-16 inch pot and has 2-3 growths hanging over the sides.
in all different directions.
To say it is a hardy plant is an understatement!!
You'll do just fine with your new friend, Steve. Providing it doesn't eat your greenhouse or growing area!
Safe to repot Cattleya bowringiana now?
). I had to repot it, as the medium was not in good conditions and the overal look of the roots was not good. I waited until the new roots started to growth for the repotting, andfound that most ofthe old roots were "gone". What really surprised me is that the root are very very thin... is it only myplant or is it general characteristic of this species?
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