It is usually light issues that keep catts from blooming.
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i live in a coastal town in Oregon and the climate is very moderate. The day time outside temperature now is around 50 degrees. My inside temperature is around 65- 68 degrees, and about 71 if i turn on the heat. At night the inside temperature varies little. I can open my deck door and it brings the heat down about 10 degrees, but i can't leave my door open all night. So i don't think it would make much difference?
Do you think that getting heat mats and warming the soil by day would improve my situation?
My plants are doing well,they are healthy, but I suspect my Cattleya varieties may not bloom.
It is usually light issues that keep catts from blooming.
Some species of Cattleyas grow at high altitudes and prefer cooler weather but, Jonada is correct, they still need good light. Rain forest cattleyas that do well in warm temperatures may get some benefit from a heat mat but I find most catts to be fairly cold tolerant down to the high 40's.
Thanks guys! I should have a light meter in about a week. i think it is low now becaue of the rain, but other wise could be enough. We shall see.
I agree that in *my* experience light is a much bigger issue that temp and my catts don't seem to be fazed or put off blooming by temps falling to the low 40s at night. I am hot most of the year though. If you stay cool most of the year, you may want to look into hybrids that have a lot of (was) Sophronitis coccinea in them- tend to be beautiful red minis, but they can't take heat.