Cattleya rex

[isurus79]

Orchid Trail has them: Orchid Trail: Orchid Species and Hybrids

[SirCatofBloominCheshireC:]

Originally Posted by CambriaWhat

Congratulations sir, your plant's flowers are beautiful. Are they fragrant?

I bought a flask of these last year and currently have about 20 seedlings. I have some growing in sphagnum (plastic pots), some in lava rock (plastic pots), and some mounted on hickory bark slabs.

The mounted plants have the best looking roots, followed by the ones in lava rock, then the ones in sphagnum.

My observation is that they do not like wet roots. Dry roots are happy roots; lingering moisture seems to stunt them. The mounted seedlings grew meandering roots all winter long, while the potted plants did not.

Mine are all outside right now in 80% humidity, 50% shade, 32°C avg high temp, 22°C avg low.

I fertilize sporadically with 30-10-10 orchid fertilizer mixed with well water high in cal & mag.

In winter, the roots get a daily spraying which dries in minutes. Winter light is direct sun from a southeast window, weather permitting.

There is still a high level of experimentation for me but I can say they are all growing and producing bigger pbulbs, so at least it seems like we are going in the right direction.

Have you found any growing techniques that have worked better than others for you Cattleya rex seedlings?

---------- Post added at 10:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:00 PM ----------

Originally Posted by isurus79

Orchid Trail has them: Orchid Trail: Orchid Species and Hybrids

Thank you. I had actually run across them. I'm hoping to find more options if not less expensive plants. Less expensive equals more buys for me.

[My Green Pets]

I still can't say I am confident in my ability to grow these guys. They are temperamental. Cooler winters and shorter days mean you have to keep them absolutely dry as possible or very very well ventilated or you will get blotches and streaks on your leaves, possibly full-on rot, but I haven't had it get that bad. Bright, bright sun all winter if you can...makes for larger growth and more flowers when they bloom in the summer.

---------- Post added at 08:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:50 PM ----------

In their native habitat, the weather is basically the same all year. A steady 75-80 degree high, 60-65 degree low and 12 hours of day and night. The change of our seasons is hard on them.

[Oyarzabal]

Thanks for you post. I was under the impression that Rex grew in a cooler environment. So, I did a quick search in Moyobamba average temperatures and you are right. I guess mine will be moving to my winter greenhouse this winter. Thanks