Cattleya Lawre-Mossiae

[Cjcorner]

I'm wondering if I should add 'coerulea' on the end as both parents carried that designation? This plant has been my "bad boy". First it wouldn't bloom in spite of the almost dozen sheaths. Second, it grows well and then does this thing where it goes limp. And third, in general the plant looks awful. So I got the trimmers out, tore it up and repotted it. Whammo, I get buds, huge new roots and tons of pretty new p-bulbs poking up. The first flower to open made me sing the "some times you feel like a nut..." ad song...because I mean it is a gorgeous flower, just slightly off on it's directional skills. And then there are the second and third blooms; perfectly formed and facing the right way. This plant just loves to make me nuts...

[Roy]

Love the color of this flower Connie. It's probably worth the 'Coerulea' tag. Not wishing to be harsh but is the plant due for a trip to the ER ??

[Cjcorner]

Love the color of this flower Connie. It's probably worth the 'Coerulea' tag. Not wishing to be harsh but is the plant due for a trip to the ER ??

I know it looks awful. I have no idea what the problem is. It is treated like my other cattleya that are thriving. In fact I try really hard with this one...give it honey, never let it get too much sun or too cold, and it still looks like this. I even spent a ton on stuff that is supposed to keep them from doing this. Maybe it is not one of the more heat tolerant? I'm out of guesses.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

I know it looks awful. I have no idea what the problem is. It is treated like my other cattleya that are thriving. In fact I try really hard with this one...give it honey, never let it get too much sun or too cold, and it still looks like this. I even spent a ton on stuff that is supposed to keep them from doing this. Maybe it is not one of the more heat tolerant? I'm out of guesses.

Sometimes orchid plants just look bad no matter how much we do! haha... I suspect it is a root issue and now would be a good time to repot it. Make sure to clean up any dead roots and pot it in a mix that is free draining and constrictive (tight pot) so that it will dry out as quickly as possible after watering. It has beautiful blooms!

cheers,
BD

[Roy]

Are the roots ok? Maybe a topping of Sphag moss might help & instead of honey, use white sugar, about 4 teaspoons per pint of water disolved & more shade for a while.

[rich63]

Did Ron sit on it? lol Sorry! Hope it comes back and thrives once again for you. The blooms look great. Have Fun, Rich

[Horst]

Beautiful flowers and they are variety coerulea determined by the color they have and not because the parents carried this on the tag.

Out of curiosity. For what honey or sugar should be good for?

[Roy]

Horst, Honey or sugar are sugars which the plant can absorb easily & work as a natural hormone for growth & root production. Like a tonic a person would take if they were or had been ill. It works great for freshly deflasked plants. Using a chemical fert' can be too harsh on such plants.

[Horst]

Horst, Honey or sugar are sugars which the plant can absorb easily & work as a natural hormone for growth & root production. Like a tonic a person would take if they were or had been ill. It works great for freshly deflasked plants. Using a chemical fert' can be too harsh on such plants.

Roy,
Now I'm getting exited and more curious.
I have serious problems to keep my plants after deflasking alive.
Maybe I'm doing it all wrong.
If it's not too much to ask, what are your procedures for a successful deflasking?

[Roy]

Roy,
Now I'm getting exited and more curious.
I have serious problems to keep my plants after deflasking alive.
Maybe I'm doing it all wrong.
If it's not too much to ask, what are your procedures for a successful deflasking?

Horst, I compot the plants stright from the flask without washing all of the agar from the roots. There is always some left.
It helps the roots. I pot into pure perlite & water in. The next watering is with sugar water, about 5 teaspoons per litre.
I water with this for the first 3 months then gradually change to a very weak normal fert'. I don't water till the mix is just moist only, I try to never over water early on. I never soak or spray the plants with a fungicide unless necessary. The plants are sterile out of the flask & very tender. Fungicides if used too strongly can burn the plants & cause more problems than if not used.