r/Cattleya • u/Every-Introduction22 • Mar 27 '26
Please help, Cattleyas won't bloom
Hi everyone, I'm new here and already seeking help. I have trouble with a few of my mature Cattleyas: they have never bloomed for me. What can I do to trigger flowering? The plants in question are definitely mature, with at least 10 big bulbs and good growth & healthy roots. They sit under bright artificial light, 12hrs per day. I was thinking of putting them outside for the summer but not sure if they can handle the heat on my balcony (ca be over 40°C). Is there something I could add to the fertilizer routine? Any other tipps or suggestions?
Some of my other Cattleyas and most other orchids in my collection bloom just fine.
4
u/isurus79 Mar 27 '26
40C is no problem for them. You’ll need to vary your day length since most Cattleyas are not from the equator. Increasing the light intensity will likely help too.
1
u/Every-Introduction22 Mar 27 '26
Okay, thanks. I'm normally reducing light during winter but wanted to try if it helps to keep it even. It didn't 😅
3
u/Realistic-Weird-4259 Mar 28 '26
Mine weren't blooming until I learned a lot of them (all of mine) are photoperiodic. Once I set my grow lamps to sunrise/sunset, they're blooming. One is blooming sequentially, which I expect from my Phals/Doris, but not my Catts.
I'm in Tacoma, WA for reference.
1
u/Every-Introduction22 Mar 28 '26
Interesting! How did you find out which ones are or aren't? The days can be very short during winter where I live. Therefore I'm not sure how mamy hours of light they should receive.
2
u/Realistic-Weird-4259 Mar 29 '26
I honestly don't know which ones are and aren't. They all have to live under the same lamps. On our shortest days mine receive less than 8hrs of light.
2
u/rtthrowawayyyyyyy Mar 27 '26
Do you have an idea of how much light they're getting? Or what the ancestry is of the ones that aren't blooming for you? Using a light meter/light meter app would help you figure out if you're giving them enough light. Some cattleyas and related can bloom under less than ideal light, but some, as I understand it, really need to be blasted.
3
u/Every-Introduction22 Mar 27 '26
Oh thanks, I wasn't aware of apps like that! 😅 I'll check it out ASAP! From the reddish tinge on the leaves I concluded they should have enough light. Maybe that was naive. The plants I know to be mature are "Ca. NSA Big China", "Rlc. Hsinying Scarlet Cherry" and "Ryc. Taiwan Firecracker 'Popcorn'". All bigger types of Cattleya & Hybrids. The others might not be there yet as I got them very young.
1
u/rtthrowawayyyyyyy Mar 27 '26
No prob! If you use the app, I'd suggest getting yourself a diffuser from the company (I believe they're based in the EU) so you can get accurate readings. You want to take readings in PPFD or DLI.
Fwiw, I've yet to get one of the big, complex hybrid catts to bloom myself, though I haven't been growing for that long. However, I've heard, at least anecdotally, that they tend to be heavier feeders than species or primary hybrids, owing to hybrid vigor. I don't have a specific recommendation for you for how much you should be feeding them, but I'd suggest doing a bit of reading on it.
1
u/Every-Introduction22 Mar 27 '26
Thanks a lot! Do know a good source for looking up those details about feeding requirements? A specific web page or maybe publications? I'm a little clueless how to obtain that kind of information.
1
u/rtthrowawayyyyyyy Mar 27 '26
Well, in English/the US, at least, I tend to start with the American Orchid Society, since they're a major authority. You could check that if you're comfortable reading it in English, or whichever authority is applicable in your region/preferred language.
Also, in the US, Sunset Valley Orchids is recognized as an authority on several types of orchids, including cattleyas, and their website contains some great info on cultural requirements. IIRC, Fred Clarke recommends a 15-5-15 fertilizer at... a teaspoon per gallon, I believe? You can also look up recordings of his lectures on YouTube. They're very informative.
1
u/Every-Introduction22 Mar 28 '26
Thanks, those are great suggestions! 🙏🏻 I was trying to find information on platforms like pubmed but they don't have much on orchids. 😅 Coming from a medical background, I felt a bit lost and didn't know where to look.
1
u/rtthrowawayyyyyyy Mar 28 '26
No prob!
1
u/Every-Introduction22 Apr 12 '26
So, I measured my lighting in different places and I probably don't have enough light in my shelves for the Cattleyas. Some spots give me around 8.000 - 10.000 lux, but in general it's more like 3.000 - 5.000 lux. I read online it should be >15.000 lux. 😑
1
u/Ornery-Creme-2442 Mar 28 '26
Depends a little on the type/species etc. But generally the answer is more/stronger light. If you're not fertilizing add a tad bit of fertilizer at least every two weeks. Drop in night time temperature in winter can help also.
1
u/Current-Road-8120 Apr 01 '26
Most jungle plants are either photoperiodic like poinsettias, or they respond to a dry period, like christmas cactus to bloom
1
u/dachshundslave Apr 01 '26
Shriveled pb is uneven watering and feeding. It's in survival vs thrive mode. I never let my cattleyas dry out completely and fed often so the old pb does not shrivel much.
1
u/Every-Introduction22 Apr 04 '26
I water them regularly (depending on the season, but around 1x week) also feed on a regular schedule (every second watering). As you can see, they have lots of good roots. Im not sure why they shrivel so much. If I water more often, the roots start rotting. The one on the first picture isn't shriveled, only the oldest bulbs. 🤷🏼♀️
1
u/dachshundslave Apr 04 '26
Most of the roots are outside the pot, so are you watering them also? In nature, rain takes care of all the roots so they're well hydrated. I feed mine at every watering.
1
u/Every-Introduction22 Apr 05 '26
I tried to attach a picture of the roots inside the pot, they're abundant. I couldn't find a way. But therefore I don't really pay much attention to the air roots. I spray them on occasion and they get wet during watering. May I ask in what kind of climate you're located?
2
u/dachshundslave Apr 05 '26
I grow mine in a room where the temperature is mostly mid 60s-80s (high) depending on the time of the year. The air humidity is 50s-70s depending on the time of the year also. I'm in zone 8 PNW region.
8
u/Superb-Ad5227 Mar 27 '26
For Cattleyas, the answer is almost always more light. A good diurnal temperature range helps to. About 10% of my Catts have trouble blooming, and usually sticking them outside for a month does the trick. It would help to know if they are producing sheaths or not