No New Growths

[bchd95]

Hello fellow orchid enthusiasts,

I am having a difficult time with my Cattleya. Ports of Paradise; this beautiful green gem I’ve had for 10 months. All it’s bloody done is grow roots. It has not given me any new growth and without it how am I supposed to hope for flowers and future for this plant?

Culture wise the feed is adapted bewteen a high N switching to high P&K fertilizers every week on rotation. Watering is when media dries. Monthly feed of kelpmax. Light is intermediate to bright. Temperatures are intermediate. Media used is Orchiata Super. I also use a ultrasonic humidifier.

Now what am I doing wrong? This one went through a repot in late winter early spring. Killing off its old roots. However it has sent new roots out to replace the old but no growth. Any advice? My other 2 catts are now taking off.






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[bchd95]

Looking at it from another perspective, am I underwatering? The pseudobulbs it came with did have ridges on them but some were also very plump. What do you think? Would make sense as to why it would hold off on new growth till reserves were built up.
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[raybark]

Yes, water it more. In that coarse grade of bark, you can't overwater.

Secondly, be patient!

[Dorsetman]

It looks as though the latest, newest growth failed and was cut off at ground level. I believe I can see the bottom few mm Or maybe a cm of it. In which case the plant is being asked to grow from an older bulb. The growth bud on that looks OK, but is essentially dormant, and takes rather longer to wake up.
It is a problem I have seen several times, especially when my plants have come both half way round the world, and been dried off before the journey, and have also swapped hemisphere, so that they are 6 months out of sync'.
You have to be patient.
Point 2 is this . Very few, maybe none, of the true cattleya likes or is even capable of pushing a new growth from below ground level. (Cat. Bowringiana is the exception, but is not actually considered a true cat' anymore ). Bury the rhizome at your peril. The growth buds need to get direct light on them to stand any chance. You have one like that, but perhaps only one. Try and pick off the bark, very gently using your fingers, piece by piece, to expose more, That will give you extra chances.
Good luck.

[bchd95]

Last summer this Cattleya was stepped on by a squirrel. I lost 2 psb’s and half a leaf due to the claw piercing the leaf causing an infection. I understand you with the older eye taking longer.

I am being as patient as I can be but having orchids in your collection that take up space and do nothing sucks.

I’ll do as you said to gently remove the bark off the rhizome. I don’t want to disturb it too much as it was jut repotted in March and is just now laying down new roots. Eventually when the time comes I’ll mount it. Thank you for your advice
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[bchd95]

Here it is, I’m left with a very silly looking mount on one side. This cattleya is so top heavy it’s difficult to pot up right. Almost looks like its climbing. At the back/ oldest psb there was a green available eye. Thank you I have hope for this one. I’ll place it in the brightest light I can without burning. Mounting would’ve been so much better. You can see the failed new growth clearer there in the last pic. Anyways heres the pictures.





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[JDT]

Part of the hobby, I think for true enthusiast, is to try to save every orchid you ever have some you will be lucky with some you will not but each time that gives you a little more knowledge of what to look for in the future and what to do. I still have some orchids that have never bloomed so it is not like this happens to only a chosen few.

[raybark]

Your very first photo shows the "eye" - the tip of the rhizome - that will likely form a new growth.

[bchd95]

@raybark, I am confident that eye will be the one to develop. It’s turned a very lush green and is showing signs of bright light with the pigmentation. I made some adjustments for stability. Also I’ve been really liking the kelpmax!
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