Cattleya amethystoglossa seasons

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by silken

Yikes! I have a young one from H & R so I guess it will be a while before I see blooms!

I had mine bloom (from H&R) at about a foot and half, though I've seen H&R's 4N plants at shows which are pushing 5' tall and have canes that are about half as wide as my wrist!! They can get pretty big!!!

[smweaver]

Originally Posted by isurus79

I've seen H&R's 4N plants at shows which are pushing 5' tall and have canes that are about half as wide as my wrist!!

I would love to see one of these guys that large and robust. Maybe I need to start being more generous with the fertilizer during the summer. I think I'm kind of stingy with the fertilizer because of the theory that was drilled into me a couple of decades ago that orchids don't get (or need) a lot of fertilizer in the wild and therefore shouldn't receive a lot in cultivation.

This is getting a little off topic, but has anyone else had good results from "pushing" their cattleyas with moderate feedings during the growing season?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by smweaver

This is getting a little off topic, but has anyone else had good results from "pushing" their cattleyas with moderate feedings during the growing season?

I fertilize the crap out of mine! lol

I also push seedlings in the winter by not letting up on the watering schedule when they should be 'resting.' It helps get them to blooming size a bit quicker and gives them a larger root system to work with, which also helps in blooming. You have to have warm temps to it safely though.

[silken]

Originally Posted by isurus79

I had mine bloom (from H&R) at about a foot and half, though I've seen H&R's 4N plants at shows which are pushing 5' tall and have canes that are about half as wide as my wrist!! They can get pretty big!!!

Mine is a 4N one from H & R. I figured it would just be more robust and maybe bloom earlier. Didn't think it would get to that size! I might have to build it it's own greenhouse!