Cattleya warscewiczii

[nancy]

Greetings -
I've had this plant for several years without getting it to bloom - it's a nice big healthy plant, 25 or more pseudobulbs, in continuous growth.
I grow in nearly full sun (south Louisiana) outdoors. Feed weakly weekly, alternating balanced, bloom booster, and seaweed, with occasional epsom salt.
It is a beautiful foliage plant, but I'm wanting to see the flowers...any suggestions? I'll try anything from desert to mud...
Thanks - Nancy

[Mahon]

Nancy,

The best suggestion I could offer you is the offer of giving me your plant!

...but is sounds like it is growing well, but not developing the flowers... normally, there is a dry season in the tropical rainforests... so try a dry period for the plant, around this time of year... try to infrequently water the plant as much as possible for the summer, and then re-start heavy watering when the growths and roots start appearing... that dry period really makes a difference... just like in all the Catasetiinae.

I too would like to hear anyone else's input...

-PM

[justatypn]

I have a log of chids I want and pointers on growting them so here you go...To enjoy a really strong flower spike, you should start warscewiczii growing early January or February. This can be achieved by giving it full sun and teasing it with misting on sunny days, this is also once the growing point breaks and begins to grow. The leaves should be yellow-green and will need a lot of moving air to keep the leaves from getting warm. The catt should require less water until the new growth is at least 4 inches tall. To much water to early seems to retard and not stimulate good flowering. When the growth gets taller, increase the amount of water but let it dry out between waterings, allowing the old pseudo to remain plump but the time the new leaf emerges. For fine tall spiked flowers do not allow the plant to get too warm as the buds emerge from the sheath; otherwise this will cause a curve and spread the flowers horizontally rather than the norm of vertical flowers. Once the buds emerge move it from the out area to a cool porch until the spike is open. They need a long rest after blooming, if you want a good flowering the following year.

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