Noid Cattleya 'Big Tease'

[Cjcorner]

I was given this plant a few months ago. It quickly took off after repotting and a nice big sheath wasn't too far behind. It just sat there pretty and colorful but no bulge from buds ever stretched it out. Months later, A faded but healthy sheath remains, only now a second sheath is growing. It's pretty easy to tell it'll be colorful......if it ever blooms! I'd never seen leaves turn red too, the backs of the leaves also have red stripes. My other red floofie (below) gives me an awful time of it too. Are red catts normally this difficult??
Connie





This second set of pics is my Blc. Honolulu Sunset 'Wakida' x Blc. Owen Holmes 'Ponkan" For some reason the new growth is doing the twist....there is something in the middle that looks like a twisted sheath with a bud at the top. It had a velvetty red flower that smelled like cinnamon. I can't wait for it to bloom again.

[Tmai]

My catts are doing weird things too this summer. Must be the FL weather this year. Your Honolulu Sunset sounds like a winner. Red and cinnamon woowEEE!

Tami

[Becky15349]

Hi Connie - I'm thinking those red areas might be a bit of sunburn. Mine usually do that when they're trying to adjust to high sunlight levels. I bet that cinnamon scented one is amazing!!!

[Cjcorner]

Will be amazing when it blooms...meanwhile if it doesn't bloom again i'm repotting to clay in case it's a roots thing....root rot is a bummer!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

I bet it is high light that caused the red tint, though some orchids have a color flush in part of the leaf or steam. In this case, sunlight is most likely the cause.

Cheers,
BD

[Cjcorner]

That particular plant sits in a high sun area for a catt.

[wetfeet101b]

Interesting.
How much light are they getting?

My catts typically get 5000+ footcandles at the brightest part of the day and still do not get that reddish tint. I know my phals do it they get hit by anything more than 1800fc, but not my catts.

Perhaps light intensity is not the sole factor? Maybe Tampa light is "cleaner" compared to smoggy Riverside lol.

[Gin]

I have to agree about the light being a little to high causing the red they do that to protect them selves from burn but on new growth that is tender sometimes it will burn anyway . Gin

[clintdawley]

No sunburn there. Red catts produce anthocyanin in abundance when they are at happy levels.

[Cjcorner]

Cleaner air i'm guessing means way higher levels sun to me. I have to wear a hat on clear days or I get what they call "sun crazy". It makes your head get really hot....it's weird and can make you feel very sick. I'm from Michigan....the sun there wouldn't burn anything, let alone a plant. Might freeze it, but no burns! lol Living here in Florida takes some getting used to. Lucky for me I'd always dreamt of retiring here so I love it inspite of the heat, bugs, black mold......etc.
And, Anthocyanin...is that related to cyanide??? Glad to know it's not burns. I have enough of that already on other stuff.