NOID catt [?].to buy or not to buy? $12 @ bkln botanic garden

[stefpix]

Ikea has no labels -
I like Trader Joe's and Lowes better.

now at Lowes they have Cattleyas - blooming size.

In chinatown on centre or laf there is a chinese beauty store thay have a large phal and a very large cattleya in bloom. they dont seem t have a lot of light. easter exposure. yet cattleya was in bloom

[Brenda Aarts]

For 12.50 I'd buy it just to see what it's going to be when it gets healthy and blooms for you. Leaves are wrinkly but still green.

[stefpix]

but for 10 I can get something online with ID... it is still there and it is going to die eventually. I told the guy at the register I would buy it for 6. But he did not relent. I bought a rootless Lc Angel Love at a store near me. actually the roots were just rotten and leaves wrinled as its pot was sitting outside under the schorching sun in a tray filled with dirty rain water.

cut all the roots off and just stuck it in a vase with water - all these eyes are now shooting up new roots and new growth.
I am wondering if i should just keep it in water when the roots get long... saw a few threads about Cattleyas in water culture.
Anyway made me think that Cattleyas are way more resilient than let's say Phalaenopsis. Looks easier to kill a Phal.

So I wonder why aren't Cattleyas the beginners' orchids? stefano

[Brenda Aarts]

Originally Posted by stefpix

but for 10 I can get something online with ID. why aren't Cattleyas the beginners' orchids? stefano

Good point. I just tonight bought some on line, some for less than 10 and a few for more than 10$. I NEED to stop. Great job on your root - rot rescue by the way, I've never tried to save a cat that way. For what it's worth, I find Cattleyas far easier to grow than phals, and I'm a basically a beginner (4 years or so).

[stefpix]

can you make the Cattleyas bloom easily?

today at trader joes I saw large phals in bark and in coconut husks [big chunk of coconut in pot] - finally they do not sell them in moss.
I believe phals are the beginners' orchid or the laypeople orchid because they are the easier to kill -
so like poinsettias just toss them after you kill em and buy a new one in bloom.
I am amazed at that Lc with no roots I got

[Brenda Aarts]

Originally Posted by stefpix

can you make the Cattleyas bloom easily?

My cats seem to like where they are. The get alot of afternoon sun and I had them outside until a few weeks ago (had to bring them in as evenings were getting too cold). I presently have many with sheaths so the next few months or so should have quite a few flowers. Have managed to get some large rescue cats to bloom as well, so I think I almost have the hang of it.

As for the moss, when I first started growing I would quickly repot my new phals into spagnum from bark. I am finding that this was a mistake and have been getting them all back into a bark mix. I think moss has its purpose but probably not for most of my plants as I tend to over water.

Agree with you that most people who buy costco (big box orchids) probably throw them out after they bloom, or quickly kill them as most people are lead to believe that orchids are very difficult to grow.