Catt. percivaliana size

[Tindomul]

I decided to just keep the plant under the t5. Many because I like the upright growth it has produced over the years, and I was worried that growing it by the window would cause it to grow in a singe direction. Also, after 6 hours of light, it would be in the dark. At least under the t5's it gets 12 hours. So raised up another 2 inches, and it's now 2 inches closer to the lights.

Is it possible that I was sold a different plant under the C. percivaliana name?

[ronaldhanko]

C. percivaliana is not a huge plant, but yours looks more like a seedling. Has it bloomed?

[Tindomul]

It has never bloomed. I think I have only had it 3-4 years. Shouldn't it have grown up by now? Am I being impatient?

[silken]

Originally Posted by Tindomul

It has never bloomed. I think I have only had it 3-4 years. Shouldn't it have grown up by now? Am I being impatient?

I bought a C. mossiae as a seedling and it took more than 3 or 4 years to mature and bloom. Not sure about percivaliana but some of these standard Catts do take a long time to mature. I also have 2 C. intermedia's bought when someone got a compot. That was about 4 years ago now and they have tons of growth but they aren't blooming yet.

[Tindomul]

Thanks Silken, only thing I am wondering is if they are supposed to stay small before reaching maturity.

[silken]

Mine is a medium size standard Catt, but it was a division so I never had it as a seedling. OrchidWiz has a Baker's care sheet and description. It says it is a moderate (16 in.) size Catt. Pseudo bulbs about 6 inches and leaves around 10 inches. On the care sheet light is listed as 3500 to 4000 fc. Charles Baker says in nature they often grow in full sun and that some growers claim they don't thrive unless grown in full light. He does caution they would need some mid day shading. Mine gets as much as my other Catts, but that is quite a bit of light and for 12 hours in the day in winter and longer in summer from natural light. It could be that yours is not getting enough if you feel it isn't growing properly. It has a large diurnal range in summer and winter with it only being slightly cooler in winter. Mine is quite adaptable in taking warm temps in summer and considerably cooler in winter. I don't find mine to be fussy and it blooms on schedule around Christmas time. A friend of mine has a plant of this species grown indoors and he hasn't been able to get it to bloom. Maybe not a large enough diurnal range?

[Tindomul]

By diurnal range, are you talking about change in the amount of hours of lighting?

[silken]

Originally Posted by Tindomul

By diurnal range, are you talking about change in the amount of hours of lighting?

Change in the day to night temperatures. Many orchids need at least a 10 to 15 F temp change to induce blooming.

[Leslie]

Percivalianas do need quite a bit of light to grow sheaths, around 2500-3000 fc. They will grow their new growths over summer and finish by late Sept to October. They then rest one month and then send up buds in December, to flower around Christmas. The diurnal difference here in November and the reduction in hours of light is the usual triggers.

Tindomul, I think your plant was a seedling when you got it and needs each growths to get bigger each year. So give it good light and feed well during the growing season to get a larger growth. From the pics it looks like another 2 years minimum. The coming new growth may tower over this years growth and the following year may reach FS with a sheath. Good luck!


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[Tindomul]

Thanks Leslie! I really don't have a way to measure foot candles under my t5 lights. Do you think that an East - Southeast window (a little more south than actual East), would deliver enough sunlight? In the summer it would probably get 5 hours of direct morning sun. It's the best I can do living in an apartment. Or should I look into stronger lights?