C violacea - Awards & AQ - Page 2 - Orchid Board

RobS · #11 05-17-2011, 12:48 PM

well done

C. violacea has the name to be warm and I have difficulties to grow warm orchids like Catasetums. but I really like it so I'd like to know at which temperatures are you growing them.

catwalker808 · #12 05-17-2011, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawaiian Sunshine

Great job of growing. Congratulations on the awards. Are any of the awarded plants in the photos you posted?

Yes, in the group photo, haha.

Actually some of the ones that bloomed before and after judging were even better than the awarded ones. The awarded ones were in the right condition at the right time. One was like photo 3 one like photo 4. The near semi-alba types are less common & were not in suitable bloom at the time of judging.

catwalker808 · #13 05-17-2011, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobS

well done

C. violacea has the name to be warm and I have difficulties to grow warm orchids like Catasetums. but I really like it so I'd like to know at which temperatures are you growing them.

Our ambient temps are: summer, 77/89 F; winter, 70/82 (sometimes 52/66 or 60/75 when it's "cold"); fall, 72/83; spring 72/85. But the temps can become a bit lower if we have cold fronts between fall & spring. The lowest I've seen here was 3 days in a row, 47, 48, 49 F. But that's very unusual.

C violacea needs VERY good drainage for roots, so that you can water freely & frequently. Warm temps are also important, of course. With more frequent new canes come more frequent blooms. This species can be grown in temperate climates. They just won't do much during cold winter periods.