Old bark mix

[Jasonmc89]

I do provide cooler and dryer in the winter but the only thing I struggle with is sunlight during winter. Pretty dull and cloudy here in the UK.

During winter I change the temp on the thermostat to 12 deg C during the night and 20 in the day.

Summer it's 15 of a night and 25 during the day. But most days it climbs to about 30+ when the sun is really out.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Jasonmc89

I do provide cooler and dryer in the winter but the only thing I struggle with is sunlight during winter. Pretty dull and cloudy here in the UK.

During winter I change the temp on the thermostat to 12 deg C during the night and 20 in the day.

Summer it's 15 of a night and 25 during the day. But most days it climbs to about 30+ when the sun is really out.

It sounds to me like you're doing all the right things. About the only thing that I can think of would be supplemental light during the winter if you can manage it.

[Sharon's Sheepdogs]

There is a previous orchidboard post which details the specific cultural requirements necessary to grow & flower Cattleya Walkeriana. I've posted the link below. You might find this info helpful:

C walkeriana - Tips for Growing & Blooming

[camille1585]

Thanks for the update, and congrats on the buds! Sometimes successfully blooming orchids comes down to the smallest of details.

[Fernando]

Bloom boosters are one of the more fraudulent formulations companies have devised - I'd put it in a lower spot but on the same list as the person who thought of "just add ice" orchids.

Thanks for that!!!

Back to light and window panes. I grow on Canary Islands, so I have plenty of sun if I want to and most of my plants need shade. If I take e.g. Brassavola, a light-hungry plant indoors, the dark green suffused with deep magenta will turn green without any red and without spots. And the window is a south-east oriented window, so it gets full sun, too. If I leave the same plant outside under shade-cloth, it will nearly return to full-sun colour. So, there must be something that does not penetrate (sufficiently) the window panes (UV and ?) Btw, the maximum leaf coloration is the combination low tº and sun. (Something rare over here but I try to avoid for it is plain stress for the plants.)
Your plant looks very nice and healthy to me. Old orchid culture books advice' on reluctant bloomers always is 'starve them' or 'hanging right under the GH-roof' - less nutrients and maximum light. I would add, try to give them outside lights and try to give them a few days of more night drop in tº.

Alas, there are plants that don't want to bloom. In my case a Stanhopea and a P. Moustache.

[Jasonmc89]

Just want to ask if anybody knows why this happens..

Every time a new p-bulb is reaches full size the papery cover around it turns this bright pink colour. It keeps its colour for only a couple of days and then what seems like over night, turns back to the usual dull colour.

Is there anything to learn from this? Or is it just what they do?

[rbarata]

Anthocyanins?

[Fernando]

This is normal, many Cattleya and their hybrids do it and even some Dendrobium.

[Jasonmc89]

Is it not an indication of anything? For example it happens as it reaches maturity or that it happens when the p-bulb is has a good reserve of nutrients?

Just seems odd that it changes from white, to pink and back to white again within a week.

[katrina]

C walkeriana needs a good deal more light than most oncidiums...for blooming. It will grow well in less light but you won't see blooms. Increase the light.