First Two Cattleyas

11 years ago

I just got my first two Cattleyas today. I've been thinking about it for awhile (finally got my Phals. under control) and they were on sale so I thought what the heck. Here they are:

The tall one is labeled:
VMA 342 BLC. YUKO ITO 'VOLCANO QUEEN' YELLOW 5/25/10

The smaller one is labeled:
WU1633 (LV56) BLC. DEWEY FOREST 'KUDOS' GREEN 7/18/11

The only concern I have is the new pseudobulb on the taller one. To me at least it looks slightly deformed (it was trying to grow through the mesh bag it was in).

If you can see any other obvious problems from the pictures let me know (any growing advice and tips would be welcome to). Here's what the flowers are suppose to look like:

Carl

P.S. I know Cattleyas need more light then Phals. but I have three places I could put them:
1) With my Phals. in an east facing window that has a couple supplemental CFLs.
2) Under my "tall" florescent bulbs (these hang about a foot above the top leaf on the tallest one and is where I have them now)
3) Under my "short" florescent bulbs (these hang about 2-3 inches above the top leaf on the tallest one)

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Comments (12)

jane__ny
11 years ago
#3. Put the tall one with the new growth near the bulb. You want to encourage that growth. I think it will straighten out as it grows.

I don't see any growth on the small one. It might be waiting for Spring and better growing conditions.

Take care of that new growth. If all goes well, it will be your flowers for next year.

Jane
CraziiiCarl
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for the advice Jane. I'll move them before I go to bed tonight.

Carl
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CraziiiCarl
Original Author
11 years ago
Another question. Should I repot any of them/pull them out of the pots to check their root system or just leave them alone and not stress them?

Carl
jane__ny
11 years ago
You already potted them! Leave them alone, this is not a good time and would likely damage roots.

Jane
garyfla_gw
11 years ago
Hi
Here is a recent flowering of a green catt that I've had for over 20 years . Have no idea as to the name . Looks a lot like the pic on your green?? Anyway good luck gary
CraziiiCarl
Original Author
11 years ago
Jane - I don't know if there is a misunderstanding on my part but all I did was bring them home and remove the packaging, pots excluded, and watered them with a VERY weak fertilizer and super thrive solution. Other then that I did nothing to mess with them but since they look good im going to take you advice and leave them alone.

Gary - Thanks for the picture it does look a lot like the picture on the label.

Carl
john3
11 years ago
To see how the flowers really look, you need to google the names. The pictures on the packaging only represent the color category assigned, not the hybrid itself. You don't need the BLC info, just the words that follow. Pictures I saw show them to be beautiful reps of catts. Good goin'!
jane__ny
11 years ago
Crazi, I apologize. I thought your Catts came bare rooted in a bag. I assumed you put them in the pots you showed. I haven't seen orchids-in-the-bag potted. Our HD always sells them bare root.

My advice would stay the same. Leave them until spring.

Gary, nice plant! I love the greenies.

Jane
garyfla_gw
11 years ago
Jane me too!!! lol
I have green catts ,Dends epicatts and vandas among orchids. Something exciting about green/ black brown or colorless flowwers So rare!! gary
jane__ny
11 years ago
Gary, I just bought one from Normans. Getting desperate to get something new and got a Greenie. I'd give you the name but I brought most of my plants inside as it got into the 30's last night. Can't get to the tags.

What's with this Florida weather??

Jane
ginnibug
11 years ago
These are your first two catts, you have to learn how to water them first before messing with the potting material,IMHO. I always had an adjustment period for the plants requirements when I got something new. gb
orchid126
11 years ago
Cattleyas don't need to stay as moist as phals. They like
to dry out before being watered again. And they need even
less water with lower light.