Cattleyas for cool climates

[rbarata]

I've read one must not fertilize Laelias when the plant is in its rest because it damages the roots.
Do you think I can start misting with fertilizer without new roots growing?
After all the plant has new growths and temps are reaching 80 F so watering must be resumed (so far I've been misting only, heavily but misting).

	Mistking Looking for a misting system? Look no further. Automated misting systems from MistKing are used by multitude of plant enthusiasts and are perfect for Orchids. Systems feature run dry pumps, ZipDrip valve, adjustable black nozzles, per second control! Automatically mist one growing shelf or a greenhouse full of Orchids. See MistKing testimonials

[Fernando]

Be very careful. I wouldn't.

[rbarata]

I would like to havr your re-evaluation of my laelia.

Today I've found this...



Although new roots are not growing from the new growths, it seems they are growing under the medium surface.

The two new growths are getting bigger each day. The biggest has a length of 2" already (5 cm) while the smallest has 0,4" (1 cm) but is growing really fast...well, both of them are growing fast.





Temps outside are now in the 75 F with a forecast of 86 F (30 ºC) next week. Lowest HR's are now in the 23 %.

My intuition tells me to stop misting and start watering but, so far, the plant is going fine. So far I've been misting early in the morning in a way that some water gets out by the bottom of the pot. Let's say it's a heavy misting.

What would you do at this point? Or am I being worrying with any reason?

	Mistking Looking for a misting system? Look no further. Automated misting systems from MistKing are used by multitude of plant enthusiasts and are perfect for Orchids. Systems feature run dry pumps, ZipDrip valve, adjustable black nozzles, per second control! Automatically mist one growing shelf or a greenhouse full of Orchids. See MistKing testimonials

[rbarata]

Finally I can see some roots growing, only one bellow each new growth. They're still small, one of them (the bigest) is only 0.5 cm (0.19 inch) and the other is starting to show.
Do you think it's now the right time to resume watering?

I'll post pics tomorrow, now the plant is already sleeping.

[estación seca]

If humidity is still low I would water. The tips will die otherwise. If humidity is quite high they might get pretty long even without watering.

[rbarata]

Humidity now (11:30 pm) is 45% and temp is 22 ºC (72 F). In the morning I presume it might be around 50~55% and min temp around 19 ºC (66 F).

During daytime, large south faced window fully open, indirect light, HR might be somewhere between 20~30% and temps around 25~27 ºC (77~81 F).

I woke up the plant and here's a photo. The roots are green because I've misted lightly the roots and top medium.
Since these are rupicolous I think I'm correct to reduce fertilizer dosage to a 1/4 of the recommended dose (NPK 13:3:15) and fertilize maybe once every 2 weeks. Am I right?

[estación seca]

I would get the roots wet every day. I might wait a little before fertilizing - when the roots are lengthening more. I think it's more witchcraft than science.

[rbarata]

I've found another new root, just bellow the bigger new growth. It's almost at medium level so tomorrow it might get into it.
I've been misting daily the roots and the top of the medium.

	Mistking Looking for a misting system? Look no further. Automated misting systems from MistKing are used by multitude of plant enthusiasts and are perfect for Orchids. Systems feature run dry pumps, ZipDrip valve, adjustable black nozzles, per second control! Automatically mist one growing shelf or a greenhouse full of Orchids. See MistKing testimonials

[rbarata]

Yesterday I watered the plant for the first time since I bought it, 3 months ago (I've been only misting the roots and the top layer of the medium).
My temps are always above 70 F (21ºC) inside (outside 86 F / 30ºC) and my HR is always in the low 20's (outside bellow 20%).

Under these conditions how many times would you water it? I know they like plenty of water during the growing stage.

Here's some photos... new roots.





New growths





The plant

	Mistking Looking for a misting system? Look no further. Automated misting systems from MistKing are used by multitude of plant enthusiasts and are perfect for Orchids. Systems feature run dry pumps, ZipDrip valve, adjustable black nozzles, per second control! Automatically mist one growing shelf or a greenhouse full of Orchids. See MistKing testimonials

[estación seca]

I would still spray the new roots every day. The bark should dry between waterings.