Cattleya tenuis

[Shirley]

Wow! That is a stunning bloom, Mauro.

[Craig]

Mauro i love this one it looks like it has the colors from the Joker on the old TVseries Batman & Robin from the late 1960'S here in America i really love the Cattleya orchid its probably the orchid im going to end up with the most varietys of in the end, i love phalenopsis also the way they hang around and all,,, but im starting to develop Catts Eyes,, i think if i grow sabreteeth we will know for sure.well great plant thanks for posting!!

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by Craig

Mauro i love this one it looks like it has the colors from the Joker on the old TVseries Batman & Robin from the late 1960'S here in America i really love the Cattleya orchid its probably the orchid im going to end up with the most varietys of in the end, i love phalenopsis also the way they hang around and all,,, but im starting to develop Catts Eyes,, i think if i grow sabreteeth we will know for sure.well great plant thanks for posting!!

The Joker... yep, I remember that TV series ah! ah! We have a saying here in Brazil for when a friend remembers something long forgotten; in a free translation it would sound something like: 'You picked that up from the bottom of the trunk'!
As for Cattleyas, if you start loving them you will see that this genus has sooooo many varieties. Enough to fill no matter what orchid lover's heart.

[Chubidubi]

yet another beauty from Mauro

[Craig]

yep "BAM" "SMACK" "POW"!!! right from the bottom of trunk!!, i found something strange at the bottom of the trunk of the new Cattleya Waleriana V Alba (hope i spelled that right) i just recieved, i bought this plant from Santa Barbra Orchid Estate Calif, it showed up on my doorstep from Fed Ex potted in rocks, like Granite looking 1" chunks, i thought it weighed a ton when it was wrapped up in the paper, it looks thick and very, very, healthy, the man, at S B Orchid Estate said they swithched to stone after realizing the fir bark was breaking down and holding and leaching built up fertalizer deposits, he said the rock never breaks down ever for thousands of years, and not being the pourus type rock used in hydroponics or petalite or other pourous stones, it dosent hold or leach fertalizer deposits either, he said his fertalizings were half or less than with fir bark and with water washings any salts or fertalizer deposits are washed clean and the roots are free to roam, the one thing i can see that might be a problem for me with it, is drying quickly in a hot or very dry climate this might become a problem? i like spag, it dosent need alot of care or waterings, i go out of town for a few days when im working on the railroad, this might lead to a dry plant with the stone im going to leave this plant in the stone for now and see how it does, this may not be news about the regular non porous stone to some of you and some may disagree, im no expert not even close, but i so much have herd of pertalite being porous and thinking this was great to mix with bark mixes but now im rethinking this after thinking about it holding fertalizers and excess moisure causing break downs or hot spots on roots, and building up harmful salts and levels of fertalizers and additives, well thats my two cents today. hope all is well for you Mauro and all. love those Catts and all Orchids of course. "i gotta get this picture posting thing down soon here"

[kiki-do]

Hey Craig, It's always good to share new thoughts and theories with all of us. We can do whatever we want with any new bits of information, but it's great to have the options and reasonings others have. Thanks for sharing. Information is always welcome!

[stitz]

Mauro,

I purchased one of these from Seidel last year. So far, it's been less than vigorous. The recent solstice and heat stimulated it to start new growth.

Any comments to help promote stronger growth will be welcome!

--Stitzelweller--

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by stitz

Mauro,

I purchased one of these from Seidel last year. So far, it's been less than vigorous. The recent solstice and heat stimulated it to start new growth.

Any comments to help promote stronger growth will be welcome!

--Stitzelweller--

It is not one of the easiest Cattleya, Stitz. The slender pseudo bulbs don't help much to store water and nutrients, so you need to avoid dehydration at all cost. For that, be careful with the roots, especially those on the new bulb. Avoid burning the root tips with excessive fertilization (salt build up). Healthy roots are essential for this Cattleya to grow well. For the rest, you can grow it like you grow Cattleya loddigesii, or even Cattleya intermedia .

[stitz]

Originally Posted by Rosim_in_BR

avoid dehydration at all cost. For that, be careful with the roots, especially those on the new bulb. Avoid burning the root tips with excessive fertilization .

Thanks Mauro. Your help has given me reason to make adjustments.

--Stitzelweller--