Rlc. Dewy Forest 'Kudos'

[Roy]

Always pleasing to flower this one. Attracts great interest anywhere I take it. A shame the green colour doesn't last long when in high light. I usually get it greener but could work the shade part in new house.

20190517_162627 by WEST VIC, on Flickr

[ArronOB]

Hi Roy. You certainly grow some lovely catts. Looking at the foliage in the background of these latest photos they look like they are growing in very high light. Almost full sun, surely ?

Also, I presume being in western Vic you heat your greenhouse in winter. Can you share your heating regime and target temperatures?

Cheers
Arron

[Roy]

Heat for sure Arron, gets rather cold here as it is now.
My new house where these are is all Opal, Laserlite. It was finished & plants put in this summer, temps got to 38c. I didn't put any shade on, no burn except where I had an end wall vent put in. The plants have responded beyond belief, flowers everywhere & way out of normal times I used to flower them in, like 6 - 7 months different. This old house & hopefully this new one I want to hold at Min 10c. Depending if Frost & intensity, they may get down to 6c but haven't had any damage with that. Summer, any temp of, I have large evaporative coolers running. Can still get to 40c but humidity at 80%+, again no damage. I do hand mist spray during the day.

[camille1585]

That is indeed a very attractive Catt! That purple streak really catches the eye.

Sounds like your orchids really enjoy their new place. How does this differ from where they were before that can explain why they're so happy?

[ArronOB]

Thanks for the reply Roy.
If it’s Opal Laserlite sheets on wall and roof then doesn’t that mean it’s roughly 51% of natural sunlight inside. Just going on this Opal - Laserlite 2000 Greca | Softwoods
.

[Roy]

I worked out something like that Arron. I have plenty of 70% shade cloth ready to go but didn't need it.
I can get the plants green again quickly using Epsom Salts, takes a few weeks but see what happens thru Winter. The extra light is definitely more natural & something I think we miss when growing orchids, we try to grow them our way, not as in nature.

---------- Post added at 11:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:29 AM ----------

Originally Posted by camille1585

Sounds like your orchids really enjoy their new place. How does this differ from where they were before that can explain why they're so happy?

The old house which is still in big use is 1/2 metal, 1/2 Polycarb sheeting on roof & walls. End walls all metal. It suits about 1/3rd of my collection but not the flowering size Catts. Compot to 100mm approx' pot Catts, great for growing to maturity but reduces flowering potential. My Paphs & Aerides plus some Dends love it so it will stay the same. As I posted to Arron, the "all round" light has produced the best out of my Catts that I've had in years. I will always be on the ready to add shade cloth, just in case.