Cattleyas light cycles and blooming - Page 12 - Orchid Board

rbarata · #**111** 10-09-2016, 01:32 PM

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...and I think that you will find that the good roots are the ones outside

I sincerely hope you're wrong.

I've noticed that "green" in the pot wall maybe one month ago, was not there previously. It's only on the side of the pot exposed to light and nowhere else and it seems to be only on the pot wall and not in between the medium.
Now that the autumn is here and HR is increasing, probably it created the right conditions for the moss to grow.
Now, as I'm writing, it's almost sunset time and my HR is 37% and temp 25,7 ºC (78 F). When he sun hits the room window the HR is lower and temp should be around (or over) 30 ºC (86 F).
Obviously, inside the pot it's different. I've been watering once per week, when I see the medium dry and the pot is light, but once the moss is there, I'll need to reduce watering.
In this growing bud thrives, as soon as the flower dies I will repot it immediately.

Roberta · #**112** 10-09-2016, 02:07 PM

Even if the roots inside the pot are unhappy, there are plenty of good ones outside, so I think no worries. One thing, if you put it in a basket, you will no doubt need to water more - but that would be good, much more like what it would experience in nature.

rbarata · #**113** 10-09-2016, 02:30 PM

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Even if the roots inside the pot are unhappy, there are plenty of good ones outside, so I think no worries.

Overall, I think I've been taking good care of this plant. That's my first catt and I've found it easy to take care of, probably because my conditions are the adequate.

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One thing, if you put it in a basket, you will no doubt need to water more - but that would be good, much more like what it would experience in nature.

I'm still trying to figure how I will do it. The last thing I want is a basket dripping water inside my room.

If anyone has ideas, please post them.

If the buds come to the point of opening maybe it will be possible to determine the possible parent species of this hybrid. It so, it will be easier to find a better watering schedule.

Roberta · #**114** 10-09-2016, 02:44 PM

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Originally Posted by rbarata

I'm still trying to figure how I will do it. The last thing I want is a basket dripping water inside my room.

If anyone has ideas, please post them.

What I have done for the "dripping water problem" is to use light-diffusing plastic with something like .5 cm holes (from your local home improvement store) It is strong, easy to make to whatever size you want (instead of cutting, I just break a row of the plastic with a small pliers) and put it over your "catch basin"
Hers is an example of the growing area that I created.
http://orchidcentral.org/GrowingAreas/indoor.jpg

estación seca · #**115** 10-09-2016, 09:13 PM

I agree with Roberta - the moss means you have been watering too soon, and not letting the medium dry properly. There is a good chance the roots in the pot are dead due to this. The skewer method (in the beginners forum) helps prevent this.

If dripping is a problem, people solve it in two general ways: move the plant someplace else for watering, and bring it back when it is finished dripping; or, put something underneath. You could set a decorative dish with something small and flat, like a piece of a brick, to hold the basket over the dish, so the basket does not sit in water in the dish.

rbarata · #**116** 10-10-2016, 05:54 AM

If the roots inside are dead it means this catt is already mounted...on a pot.

So, what should I do now?
I've been misting the aerial roots approx every 3 days. Maybe that's what's keeping it alive.
Shall I continue?

Roberta · #**117** 10-10-2016, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbarata

If the roots inside are dead it means this catt is already mounted...on a pot.

So, what should I do now?
I've been misting the aerial roots approx every 3 days. Maybe that's what's keeping it alive.
Shall I continue?

I like the way you think! You have not only been keeping it alive, but quite happy, it appears. I think right now, keep doing what you are doing, and see if that bud develops. Once it has bloomed, you can take it out of the pot, see what is good and not good, and then you will know what to do. Use the "wood skewer" method to tell when to water, but keep misting the aerial roots even if you reduce the watering frequency. But don't abruptly change anything - you do want that flower!

rbarata · #**118** 10-10-2016, 02:35 PM

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I like the way you think! You have not only been keeping it alive, but quite happy, it appears.

Well, thank you... but what would I gain by being worried? And I like what is happening because I'm learning while having several buds on the way. It could be worse.

The only change I'll do is to decrease watering frequency. I would do it anyway 'cause days are shorter, temps going down and HR going up, at least outdoors.

I checked the medium at the bottom of the pot and it feels and seem dry, even in the vicinity of the areas with moss.
Today, at noon, the HR in my room was 20% and we had an overcasted morning until 11:30. So, even in those conditions, HR is really low (temp was 26 ºC / 70 F).

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But don't abruptly change anything - you do want that flower!

I won't! Buds are growing fast. Comparing the photos I took 3 days ago with the ones bellow (taken today), now it's possible to see two buds.

rbarata · #**119** 10-15-2016, 02:38 PM

I've found these baskets. They're not made of wood but...do you think they are ok? One concer is if the coconut fiber on the bottom breaks and let all the medium fall (after a few years, of course).

Roberta · #**120** 10-15-2016, 03:13 PM

My experience with these is that the coco mats stay too wet. Also, the surface is not the sort of thing that the roots will want to grab on to, for the same reason. (If any other people have had different experience, please say so!) It might work if no bark were used, though. With an open basket (wood is friendliest to Catt roots but plastic works well too) the roots get the air and rapid drying that they want. In fact, over time, the bark becomes somewhat irrelevant as the roots find their "homes". So a more temporary method of holding the bark - plastic netting, or even newspaper, will do the job.