Successful Culture

[Joan]

I have several orchids from a grower in California that do not appear to be thriving. They are SLC Gold Lakes, SLc. Dream Cloud and Lc Mini Purple v Corrugga. They are planted in clay or plastic pots, mixed media, fertilized weekly, weakly with MSU for tap water and placed in a south window. I live in NY and grow them indoors fall and winter and outdoors spring, summer and warm days of fall. They haven't bloomed or grown very much in two years. Even in the shade the leaves are all pale green. Does anyone have any experience growing these?? Could they just all be poor plants? They were all raffle prizes.

[clintdawley]

You may want to try supplemental lighting in the window and make sure that day/night temps are at least 15 degrees apart. Most catts need cooler nights (58-64) in order to bloom. Do you mind posting some pictures?

I have several orchids from a grower in California that do not appear to be thriving. They are SLC Gold Lakes, SLc. Dream Cloud and Lc Mini Purple v Corrugga. They are planted in clay or plastic pots, mixed media, fertilized weekly, weakly with MSU for tap water and placed in a south window. I live in NY and grow them indoors fall and winter and outdoors spring, summer and warm days of fall. They haven't bloomed or grown very much in two years. Even in the shade the leaves are all pale green. Does anyone have any experience growing these?? Could they just all be poor plants? They were all raffle prizes.

[Joan]

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post.
I will try to take some photos of the orchids in question but I haven't been very successful posting pictures in the past. Perhaps this time will be a more positive experience.

[Ron-NY]

Have you checked the root system on them? When was the last time they were repotted? Do you wash the fertilizer salts out of the pot on at least a monthly basis?

[Joan]

The roots are fine and I flush them at every watering before I fertilize them.
The Lc Mini Purple v corrugga, has a new growth up on the side that looks like a keiki. Is that possible on a cattleya?? This new growth is not doing much growing either with two nice roots that also seem suspended in time for lack of growth!!

[clintdawley]

I would say without supplemental lighting even a South window where you are in the winter time wouldn't provide enough light to keep at Catt growing at a fairly steady rate. Take advantage of the warmth this year and find a nice bright place for them outside. When it gets too cold bring them inside and provide some kind of supplemental light for them. In order to be successful, most indoor growers have to take advantage of small microclimates outside and also try to keep our plants well lit thorough the dreary days of Winter.

The roots are fine and I flush them at every watering before I fertilize them.
The Lc Mini Purple v corrugga, has a new growth up on the side that looks like a keiki. Is that possible on a cattleya?? This new growth is not doing much growing either with two nice roots that also seem suspended in time for lack of growth!!

[smartie2000]

my mother has not been having trouble without supplimental lighting. Her old cheap noid catts still bloom even if they don't produce the round full looking desired award blooms (I think it is genetic). Our winters are worse since I'm at a high latitude and they aren't mini ones either (probably Blc. and laeliocatt). Yes growth does not occur in the winter though but the pseudobulbs are mature before winter. She says I use too much electricity since I suppliment my windowsill in addition to my lights in the basement.

Aren't pale green leaves normal for some cattleya?

Cooling down a bit during the winter maybe the key. My windows are not efficent (seriously inefficent, I can feel how cold it is near the window) and she turns down the thermostat at night anyways.

[Joan]

I have other Catts that bloom for me without supplemental lighting. The catts in question here were outside last summer and fall till temps fell too low.

[smartie2000]

Perhaps they were damaged last year and are set back?

I've seen some pretty bad looking raffle plants, though I don't know how yours were.

I've read some viral plants do not show symptoms on their leaves and maybe slow growers or not performing (not to get you panicing). I have the few plants that seem slow or just odd. They were bad ebay plants. I am going to test it with a virus kit soon and if it is positive out to the trash it goes.

[Joan]

Does anyone have any information about that side growth that looks like a keiki? Do Catts do that? Should it be removed and potted up or remain?