What is wrong with my cattleya? (Pictures Included)
Hi,
Could you please identify what's wrong with this cattleya and recommend how to treat?
Also, its flower spikes turned black before the buds were able to bloom or even fully develop and I cut them off. On the pictures the spikes just started turning brown.
Many thanks in advance from me and from the cattleya.
Last edited by Kateryna; 04-06-2024 at 02:21 AM..
Reason: Additional pictures
Yes, I took it out last weekend. We have it for about 4 years now.
It didn't bloom 2 years in a row. The flower spikes grow and then turn brown and then black.
It grows outdoors in the South Florida environment, a mix of orchid bark and orchid moss, watering 2x week from a hose (fine mist, drinking tap water), hanging in a ceramic pot with holes for orchids, in the shade but it's gets brightfor some hours.
Looking at this plus your outdoor Phals. losing flowers on spikes, I wonder whether all this may be due to thrips insects in your garden. They are a known problem in Florida. The Phals. have that appearance, and your description of what is happening to your Catts. also sounds similar.
If you go to Motes Orchids and sign up for the newsletter, you will receive monthly updated about what to do for orchids growing in Florida. He usually addresses thrips and other insect pests at the appropriate seasons.
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