Cattleya develops drooping spikes and curled leaves

[HeyMrDeej]

Hi everyone,

I’ve recently been gifted a few catt hybrids and noticed the spikes grow into a drooping direction and a few leaves grow cupped/curled. Prior to receiving them, they’ve been growing in a green house with ideal temps, lighting, water, and humidity. They are potted in a hydroponic type substrate.

Aside from staking the spikes as they grow next season, is there any way I could fix these traits? Is it just genetics? Disease?

[estación seca]

You're not watering them enough.

[HeyMrDeej]

Ahhh thanks. I’ll repot them into a more water retentive medium with the new growth.

[Roberta]

Hmmm... I have found that Catts do like a very open medium that lets them dry out. How OFTEN are you watering? Rather than trying to keep more moisture in the pot (be very cautious to not overdo it!), I'd be inclined to water more frequently. In a very open medium, you could easily water every 2 or 3 days without the plant bein overwatered.

[HeyMrDeej]

I haven’t figured a schedule with them yet because I got them already blooming and in the hydroponic stuff.

I’m planning to repot them into the same bark mix my other catts are in because my mix hold some moisture but dries out in about 5 days. So I’m able to water every 7-10+ days depending on the season.

[Roberta]

I think the plant is telling you that it would like to be watered a bit more frequently (like 5-7 days depending on the weather) It wants to dry out just barely, but not stay dry too long.