C. 'Ports of Paradise Emerald Isle' - Won't flower
 

:hello

I have had this flowering size division of C. Ports of Paradise Emerald Isle for 4 years and it hasn't flowered yet. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I am going wrong?

Does it maybe need stronger light than normal, because I have a feeling that my shadecloth is darker than 50% but I am not sure, as I bought the bush house 2nd hand. It is supposed to have a green flower. Does anyone else out there have this orchid who can tell me what growing conditions they have?:scratchhead:

Thanks in anticipation of an answer.

Hmmm, I don't have this particular catt but my first thought was, not enough light.

Next thought, maybe not old enough. But you've had it 4 years so it has to be getting close.

Try moving it slowly into brighter light, don't want it to sunburn by giving it a lot of light all at once.

Good Luck!!!

Thanks for your reply DebsC. It is actually a Blc. and it is definitely a large flowering size division. I will try moving it out of the bush house and see how that goes.

Hi Sue, I also have one of these and it hasn't flowered for me yet but I thought perhaps it just wasn't big enough. I got it as a division two years ago. The leaves are looking a little reddish so I don't think it's a lack of light. Just keeping my fingers crossed! :)

What type of fertilizer are you using .. what is the N-P-K numbers and at what strength? (measured amount) and how often?
If you feed it fertilizer that is too high in Nitrogen .. that can impede blooming ..
I agree with the above posts with increasing it's lighting .. and again, to echo above, gradually allow it to adapt to the increasing light intensity ..
:)

I have Ports of Paradise '3G' like its parent, Rhy. digibyana, strong light is must for blooming.
I grow mine with other large cattleyas. In summer, 50% shade is suggested while in other seasons, they receive direct sunlight.
Proper dryness is also recommended for this cross to develop good root system.

Blc. 'Ports of Paradise Emerald Isle' love medium to high light all year round, shaded from bright summer sun but good light in the winter. They need fairly good light to help regular blooming which is generally annual in the spring or early summer months.

I've got two of the Blc Ports of PAradise one is the 'Emerald Isle' with new growth almost complete and the other one is still a seedling ' Green Chin Hua' I can't wait to see the flowers.

Four years with a blooming size division should have produced flowers by now. I agree with above, check the light level and fertilizer. I was given a 3 psuedobulb division and it bloomed the following year. Don't give up hope as she is a beauty.

Thanks everybody for your answers. :waving All very helpful. I am going to move it out of orchid house and give it much stronger light and really concentrate on trying to get it flowering. I am not giving up hope Don, cos the pics I have seen of it are gorgeous.

I didn't know it's parent was rhyncholaelia digbyana, but that makes sense of course. Digbyana is on my wish list and I have been promised a division of it by a Club member at the end of the year. It is spectacular and the perfume is quite amazing. I am counting the months til December.

Awesome green one! :o
I can definitely see the digbyana influence :nod:
http://www.merklesorchids.com/2Image...f_paradise.jpg

Thanks Dorothy for sending that link with the pic of 'Emerald Isle". :lol: That is not exactly the same as other pic I had seen previously of 'Emerald Isle". It is much better than I imagined. It is magnifico. Yes you can definitely see digbyana in it. Almost looks like a twin. I am really enthusiastic now to get the stubborn little thing flowering.

Its funny that this post is up. A friend of mine has this plant and was saying how it wouldn't bloom for him until he let it get so pot bound that it crawled out of the pot. Then bammo.....BLOOMS! Ive heard that sometimes digbyana can be the same way. Any rate, I did a search for a pic and the first one I found of Ports of Paradise Emerald Isle shows a blooming plant hanging out of the pot. Anyone else have any success this way? Have to get me one of these!!!

Hey Cowboy51278, that is one beautiful plant. Tho it is more difficult to re-pot once they go over the edge. They should have re-potted sooner into a larger pot and would make a stunning "specimen".

That is a gorgeous plant, Paul. Interesting comments! I repotted mine about a year and a half ago so I think I'll just leave it and let it fill the pot! We'll see what happens, thanks. :)

Ports of Paradise "Emerald Isle"
 

Hi Sue...I just saw this thread, and thought I'd respond to it. I have found that my cattleyas like LOTS of high light. Sooooooooo, I removed my 40% shade cloth. At that time, I had just received a very large Emerald Isle ( in bud ) from a grower, which bloomed. After E.I. finished blooming, it was re-potted. Now, it has five almost mature new growths. I have started to give it Peters 10-30-20 blossom booster. I expect to have at least ten flowers this Fall....Will let you know. Hope this helps...BettyE.

50% shade is too much.
Up the light and you will see flowers in no time.

Good Luck! :)

I sure do agree with the above! I took off my 40% shade cloth because my orchids were not getting enough light to set blooms. I now have spikes on two plants... ( Emerald Isle )Three on one & one on another. They are both getting blossom booster until I can see the spikes inside of the sheaths. Hope yours gets some flowers soon...BettyE.

Question:
When you say cattleyas need lots of light would 4 hours of strong sunlight from about 7-11am be sufficient?

I agree with this post...mine are NEVER growing out of the pot, & they bloom at least once a year. High light, along with 10-30-20 fertilizer at the right time works for me.....BettyE

Pot bound does not make anything flower.
Pot bound is just that; pot bound. lol

Most likely, the plant reached certain mass to finally flower, or the growing conditions might have changed for the better or worse. lol

Not sure...mine get at least eight hrs. but they are shaded from 11:30 til 1:00. The rest of the time they are in direct light in my unshaded greenhouse...BettyE.