Cattleya QUESTIONS

[work2ski]

To all you cattleya gurus,

The last time I wrote to Mr. Hoa (the Speedo King), I mentioned about getting an area ready for cattleyas. Anyway, that time has come and my very FIRST batch should arrived this coming friday or saturday. I will list the names and if you see one or any that requires special treatment/attention, please let me know. All the info I have on cattleyas are from books, no hands-on experience for this genus. Therefore, I will take each advice to heart. Here are my 2 questions.

What are the most common mistakes people make in growing cattleyas ?
What can I do to make them like me ?

1 Blc Waianae Leopard
1 Iwanagaara Appleblossom
1 Stlma Keely 'Lea'
1 Lc Hwa Yuan Beauty
1 C. walkeriana coerulea (w/ a very blue lip)

Still looking for a C. Dowiana var Aurea.

Thanks,
Trung

'for i have seen it in my vision'

[Hoa Tony Nguyen]

Catts are best grown intermediate, even cool but you need to keep them dry during cold spell. Some like it quite warm like the C. dowiana. The trick is : you water them very well, wait until the roots dried out (70-75% within a few days) then water again. To bloom catts, you need very strong light short of burning their leaves. Personally, I think you might as well buy a bunch and experiment with them with the above guidelines. Learning by doing it, you will figure that out after a year or twos!
Cheers. Hoa.

[Diane]

I have the first four, they are hard to kill, and actually pretty easy to bloom. Mine are in an east window, but also under artificial light to give them enough light. Cool down is the hardest for me because the plants are in the house, and I don't like to sit around in 50 degree temps in the winter....

[Piper]

I'd say the two mistakes most often made are:

1. Not enough light (they'll grow nicely, but they won't bloom.) They're light hogs!

2. Too much water. Definitely let the roots dry out before watering. I use clear pots so I can see if there's any moisture in there. When in doubt, wait a day.

Good luck - looks like a nice haul!

Julie

[work2ski]

Dianne,

When you wrote cooling down, you meant only in the night time, right ?

With my house, it has 2 separate heating/cooling units. One for upstairs and the other is for downstairs. In the fall/winter time, I will not have a problem bringing the temp. down to the 50s. Over this past winter, I kept the nighttime temp. for downstairs consistently at 65 degrees for the phals.

Julie, just repotted most of my growing phrags in clay pots after reading one of your post. Hope you're right and thanks.

Cheers,
Trung

[Piper]

Julie, just repotted most of my growing phrags in clay pots after reading one of your post. Hope you're right and thanks.

LOL - I hope so too, Trung!

Julie

[Diane]

Dianne,

When you wrote cooling down, you meant only in the night time, right ?

With my house, it has 2 separate heating/cooling units. One for upstairs and the other is for downstairs. In the fall/winter time, I will not have a problem bringing the temp. down to the 50s. Over this past winter, I kept the nighttime temp. for downstairs consistently at 65 degrees for the phals.



Cheers,
Trung

I wish I had separate units for each floor of my house, but then I have a bottom floor to roof opening for a large skylight, so the two units wouldn't be quite so effective. The cooling should be at night, but also the daytime temps should not be hot during the cool period... If you are managing normal household temps then you should be fine for the warmth. Phals can take a lower temp than 65... at least mine do.

[Piper]

I'm fine down to 60 at night with all of mine.

Julie

[sunset]

hi work2ski
If you find C. Dowiana, be careful. The young C. Dowiana are very prone to mushrooms, contrary to the other varieties of cattleyas.

[work2ski]

Hi Philippe,

If you read my den. posts, it has pictures of my 1st batch of cattleyas minus the dowiana. I decided to get a blooming sized plant instead of a seedling because I don't want to have to wait for a couple of years for it to bloom.

As for the mushrooms and such, my growing environment here is just way too dry for any of them to grow.

Thanks,
Trung