unknown

[Molly Taco]

Anyone have nay idea what this is, I know an orchid, but what kind? My elderly neighbor gave it to me several months ago saying that he had had it for years and it had never bloomed, he had even given it to a friend who raises orchid had they couldn't get it to bloom. There is a sheath but I don't know what to expect. Any Ideas
Cin

[Diane]

Looks like a very healthy member of the Cattleya alliance. Maybe too healthy. I keep having to relearn that often you have to stress plants to trigger blooms - try more direct sun, or perhaps cut back on fertilizer so it blooms instead of grows...

(This from a woman whose George King put out 6 new leads this year and not one bloom!)

[bench72]

Those leaves do look fairly dark green... so I would go with what Diane said about upping the light levels...

[Molly Taco]

Those leaves do look fairly dark green... so I would go with what Diane said about upping the light levels...

I have it in a south facing lathe house hanging on the outer edge so it gets a lot of light and some direct sun. Maybe too much sun???
Cin

[Diane]

No, not too much. Those leaves would be pale green with a yellow tint or have sun burn if they were gettiing too much light. What media is it growing in? Perhaps it is getting more water than it should.

[wogga]

repotting to an open sided basket with bark, vermiculite, sheet moss and styro peanuts at the bottom might help in getting it accustomed to a more regimented water level.

[Molly Taco]

No, not too much. Those leaves would be pale green with a yellow tint or have sun burn if they were gettiing too much light. What media is it growing in? Perhaps it is getting more water than it should.

The orchid isn't mine and the owner won't spring for a basket I did take all of the old bark out when I first took it and replaced it wiht lava rock, it immediatly started growing new roots and what appears to be a bloom sheath. The lava rock won't allow the orchid to get too much water and as far a watering they get it once or twice a week depending on the temp and rain fall. there isn't any sunburn so I guess we will wait and see. But you think that it is in the Catt family?
Cin

[Piper]

It looks more Catt like than anything else, to me.

Julie

[Diane]

I have a few catts that being in lava rock. So I say, water once a week, fertilize every other week. Your area is humid enough that that should be enough water. Watch the leaves and p-bulbs for any sign of distress..... Some orchids are just &$@#* hard to bloom without the perfect conditions. I have some that will only bloom every other year - I still haven't figured out what was different from one year to the next... LOL

[Brutal_Dreamer]

I say it is a catt too. to what Diana said about the light. Up the light to almost fairly direct sun. If the plant get some sun damage, cut back the light, but the usual cause of 'no blooms' is insufficient light.

Cheers!
BD