Orchid Culture - Questions & Answers from This Month
by Sue Bottom, from the St. Augustine Orchid Society Newsletter. Email us with any orchid question. If we can't answer it, we'll find someone who can! Send photographs too!
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Cattleya Growing Out of Pot
Q. What would you do with this Lc. Carlad's Mini-Quinee 'Angel Kiss'? The roots have grown way out of the pot. Now it has growth coming out of both sides into the air. New roots and new growth are starting now. Should I shove it into a bigger pot and let the roots bunch up, cut it in half and put it into two larger pots, or just let it fly in the air and let it figure it out?A. It looks like a wild child that will never be happy in a pot. Maybe it would be happier in a basket, cut away the plastic pot and drop it into the basket as is and let it go hog wild. Or maybe get a long vertical mount and cut it into 2 pieces, mount them on opposite sites at the bottom and let it climb to its heart's content. (Feb-26)
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Color Break in Cattleya
Q. Does this C. percivaliana 'Summit' look like it has virus induced color break? The plant is vigorous and without any leaf issues.A. That sure looks like color break, pretty severe. I find that color break is sometimes more obvious when looking at the back of the flower. As to the leaves, sometimes virused plants have leaf markings, such as chlorotic or necrotic streaks or red V shaped lesions, though sometimes the leaves are clean. Sometimes growth vigor is poor with virused plants, and sometimes it's excellent. In any case, that is a real shame, because that is an otherwise beautiful orchid. (Feb-26)
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Summer Blooming Phal Spike Yellowing
Q. My specialty Phals have been in the garage with grow lights over their back shoulders. I’ve not been watering as much as usual (twice/to three times a week) and no fertilizer. I’ve not seen a spike turn this color before.A. That spike is getting ready for the final goodbye. You can just wait for it to turn brown and cut it off. We've had more cold nights this season than I remember in the last coupla years, and that may have hastened its demise. (Feb-26)