This one is doing okay except...

[orchid_killer]

This cattleya is actually not too bad. But, I would like to do some intervention before it goes downhill. I got this in Feb 2008. I never moved it out of the pot that it came with from the store because I don't have a big enough "designer" pot for it. It probably needs to be repotted soon though because the roots are spilling out. It was blooming when I bought it. It never bloomed since.

If you look at the stems, it has some burn marks on it. I don't know what it is. The leaves are firm and healthy enough although it is too dark green, I think. It stays in the screened patio all year long even in winter (in Jacksonville, Florida) when we experience 30F some nights. I was told that catts want a big temperature swing to encourage bloom. Was I mis-informed?

I'm not sure if I should move it outside in brighter light when it has those burn marks. What do you think I should do? And what should I do to keep it from dying like the rest of my chids?



Close-up of the burn marks:

[Cjcorner]

Aha, you must have met the same person I did...way back...lol. I too was mis-lead into thinking this kind of Dendrobium needed cold to flower. Oops...if that is a Phalaenopsis Dendrobium, it needs to stay warm year round and be fed year round. There is no dry spell for these either....unless you are out of rainwater that week. (i'm being funny) Yours looks abit peaked....move it slowly towards the sunlight. These like to be slightly burned in order to bloom. They need high light levels with no direct sun down here after say 11 am once the heat hits. My favorite nursery here sits den's out in full sun on a cement type back drop. They turn interesting colors and then bloom like crazy. I've never gone to those lengths...yet....i'm still trying to not kill them or their roots.
Good Luck....hope to see flowers soon!

[cindiras]

I'm still looking for burn marks. all I am seeing is the dries sheath around the psuedo bulbs, and THAT you can peel off if the look of it is bothersome to you.

[Becky15349]

Those are not burn marks, just degrading of the sheath material which you can clean up and pull away. It has nothing to do with sun. These plants have been in too low of light conditions, as you can tell by the dark foliage. Increase light substantially and you will get blooming. Others will pipe in with more specific info on light needs I'm sure, as I am on my phone.
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[orchid_killer]

Whoa! You're right! I peeled away the "burn marks" and it's looking great! So yeah, foliage too dark. I'm gonna put it under UVB lamp on a dimmer to have better control of "gradual light change". Will that work? I only have in the house, in the patio (where it is now), or outside - so, if I take it outside without the screen protection, it might be too drastic. It's that UVB lamp used for the lizard.

[cindiras]

My vote would be for outside on the east side of a tree.