Cattleya with very thin pseudobulbs

[Mik]

Hello to everyone. I would like to know if this cattleya can help its baby to grow even if the bulbs are very thin? It still has eyes so how to grow the eyes into a baby cattleya? It already has one growing root so I am very happy. Lol. Next is can I grow a cattleya with only one bulb? It only has one eye left. Thank you in advance.

[PaphMadMan]

The 3 bulb division is somewhat dehydrated but looks reasonably healthy and has some good eyes. It just needs a humid environment, something to hold even moisture around the base without being soggy, and normal good care. It should be able to start new growth from one or more eyes. The new growths will form roots. The first growths will probably be small, but give it good care for a couple years and you will have a healthy plant capable of blooming.

The single bulb division will be more difficult, if you get growth at all. It seems like it was immature when it cut or broken from the main plant, and that eye may not be capable of growth. Treat it the same as the larger division, but if it grows at all it will probably take at least 3-5 years before it can bloom.

Good luck.

[Dorsetman]

Put the whole thing in a jar of water to cover the bottom 3 or 4 inches of the canes. Keep in a warm, reasonably well lit place - with your other orchids. Change the water before it gets green with algae, no fertliser. Patience.... In weeks/months, new roots will appear and grow. When at least 2 inches long, pot up in the smallest pot, maybe use loosely packed moist sphagnum moss, and grow away. Warning: lots and lots of tlc for several years to get a flowering , healthy plant from this stage.

[Mik]

Thank you PaphMadMan and Dorsetman.