Species Cattleya Rest Period

[Brooke]

Steve I gave you my advice with the luteola.

Susanne they do not want to dry out for long. The luteola is one of the easist catts to show displeasure for being overly dry by shriveled canes and leaves. Been there, done that - I tried to treat it like many of my other catts and had to up the watering on it - winter and summer.

I took my cultural information from Chadwick, Winther and Orchid Wiz. So far it has served me well.

Even the species that want long rest periods do get their exposed roots and foliage misted to help make up for the humidity likely in their natural habitat. It is my normal drench the pot watering habit that changes. Right now my mossiae is in sheath but pushing new roots like crazy. Yesterday with bright sun, I misted them. Today, no sun, humidity running 80%, no misting.

I should state I grow in a g/h in zone 6 and have to make judgements in the winter as to proper culture. Several sunny days and the moisture evaporates at an alarming rate and several no sun, heater runs for days with 95% humidity dripping, makes guesstimating their needs difficult.

To me, being able to guess correctly within our individual environments is what makes someone a good orchidist.

Brooke

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[whygreenberg]

Thanks, Sue & Brooke...I can definitely make some sense out of that. My luteola is also currently in sheath and pushing a lot of root growth. I'll just keep a good eye on it, and will try doing similarly with the no-drench, but occasional misting.

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[Brooke]

Here is the info I have written on the care tags for each of my different species I haven't commented on so far.

percivaliana - rest 2-3 mo (I give it a rest after the holiday bloom) growth starts in spring

skinneri - Dec-March - heavy mist only

schilleriana - cool dry winter - blooms spring from fall sheath

iricolor - water all year - This is a brand new plant for me picked up from Ecuagenera at the MAOC, bare root. I have not over wintered it but it is growing roots and I have no shriveling.

I also have the luddemaniana and didn't comment on it. My tag says blooms in fall - rest after flowering. I have no notes on how long to rest it so I do water on occasion through the winter.

The walkeriana notes - do not dry out but heavy mist Nov.-Feb. Both of mine are in plastic vanda baskets with charcoal/lava rock so I mist them through the winter IF the g/h is going to be sunny. My coerulea is getting ready to bloom and the alba bloomed in the spring.

I try to make my decisions on the watering/non-watering based on sun, potting media, container size, their natural habitat and the biggest thing, my gut.

The only species I've killed was a warzie but I picked up another one from Ecuagenera and will give it a go again.

Brooke

[Becky15349]

I was having this same thought the other day, and I really appreciated this post!! It is nice knowing that other people are wondering the same things about winter watering and rest periods that I am

[DebsC]

I have a large percivaliana that I got a couple of months ago in pretty rough shape. It had to be repotted and now has lots of new growths but is also in sheath.

This is a problem I have with species, they're always putting out new growth even while they're in bud or flowering. How/when can I rest them?

[Brooke]

This is where your gut feeling has to take over.

If you have new active roots on a growth, they need some moisture. If you have new growth but the roots haven't appeared yet, then the plant doesn't need as much water.

Many of my species have new or almost completed growths (and sheaths) but do not have new roots yet on that particular growth. The roots actually appear later. Some species will produce their new growths and roots at the same time.

Next year will be easier as you learn which catt does what and when :>)

Brooke

[dgenovese1]

Brooke,

Thanks again for sharing your expertise with us.

[DebsC]

What kind and length of rest does c labiata need? I have one in flower and new growth and one that just finished blooming and has no new growth.

[dgenovese1]

Originally Posted by DebsC

What kind and length of rest does c labiata need? I have one in flower and new growth and one that just finished blooming and has no new growth.

Hi Debs,

I actually have one of these guys blooming right now. It has 5 spikes coming along, the first of which started opening today! I have had it for 3 years now, and have not given it a rest period. And it just keeps getting bigger.

I do cut back watering in the winter months to just once a week, but I do that with all of my catts...it's not as hot, so they don't dry out as quickly.

[DebsC]

Thanks David. I have a couple of them too. One has just finished blooming but has no new growth and the other one is in bloom and already has new growth.

I don't recall giving much of a rest last year but then all my species seem to start new growths while still in bloom. They don't really give me a chance to rest them.