Bc. Culture Question

[KC C]

I went to my first orchid show/sale this last weekend and bought three orchids: Neofinetia falcata, Cattaleya Arctic Star 'Snow Queen' Z1391, Bc. Lindeyana.

It is the Lindeyana that I need more information about. The seller said that it is a white bosso type and is a compact small type. Other than general info about Bc. I can't find any info.

Also, does anyone have any experience with ants taking up housekeeping inside a bud? When I got home I found that medium sized black and red ants were living in the Snow Queen's 10" pot so I sprayed the media with Safers (all I have, I have to get somethingelse) and left it outside overnight. Upon bringing the plant in the next night I discovered the some of the ants had moved into the largest bud whose petals had just started to loosen. I keep watching for them and carefully hand catching them and pinching the life out of them, but they are fast and sneaky. I haven't sprayed the buds because I'm worried about damaging them.

[Diane]

Ants frequently get into buds, especially when they are just about to open because they often have 'honeydew' around them. You can try to catch them, but they shouldn't hurt the flowers.

As for the Bc, it should be grown with your other Cattleyas and should do just fine. I have a couple and they do very well.

[orchid-man]

ditto to the advice that Diane has given

[mayres]

The problem is not so much with the ants directly as the fact that they are "farmers". They will often bring in their herd of mealies and/or aphids. THEN you have a problem! mike