C. aurantiaca blooms don't open - Orchid Board

bevoorhies · #1 05-09-2007, 01:09 PM

I'm new to the Orchid Forum but have been growing orchids for some 20 years. I have a C. aurantiaca that's fairly new to me, I've only had it a few years. It's an older orchid and is needing to be repotted but I left it in the same pot last year because it put on so many blooms. The problem is that the blooms don't open! I've never seen this happen with blooms that are still alive. They remain with green stems and colorful blooms but either stay tightly closed or just open a tiny bit along the petal edges. Any guesses?

DebsC · #2 05-09-2007, 01:39 PM

Hi And welcome to the board! Since you've been growing orchids for a long while, I assume you've checked the light, humidity and warmth? Do you grow in a greenhouse?

The only time I had a similar problem, I moved the catt to a lighter area and in doing so, it was also warmer. The buds did open but I'm not sure if the move did the trick.

Good luck finding the answer!

bevoorhies · #3 05-09-2007, 02:13 PM

Thanks. It's already in the best light in my greenhouse. All my other catts are fine. I'm just baffled.

Ross · #4 05-09-2007, 02:19 PM

Welcome! I had a similar event this year with my Miltonia - none of the buds fully opened. Someone suggest humidity, but I wonder if this wasn't just a freak year?

Dorothy · #5 05-09-2007, 03:10 PM

Bevoorhies ..

Glad you can join us!!

Sorry I couldn't be of much help in chat but..
I am sure you will find a good number of responses here!
Please join us in Chat at 8pm Eastern or later ..

Many there are of great experience and have a wealth of information to share!
and they are great people too!

Ross .. I know what you mean about Milts and humidity .. I can't seem to provide enough for mine at this time with this dry weather .. and I am continually spraying it as I pass by .. but I loved the spray of blooms it brought when I bought it!

Ross · #6 05-09-2007, 05:01 PM

It was much nicer last year - really big rosy-purple blossoms. This year, notta!

But something like 12 spikes, none of the blossoms opened fully!

Dorothy · #7 05-09-2007, 05:41 PM

Frdemetr · #8 05-09-2007, 06:20 PM

Welcome, Bevoorhies!
You say the plant is older, in the previous year it blossomed OK? In this case I think its only a problem of acclimatization, may in the next year it will be fine; it happened to me in a few plants (none Cattleya alliance)

Mahon · #9 05-09-2007, 11:05 PM

Welcome!

I'm going to guess it needs more water! I notice that ALL of my Guarianthe (it was segregated from Cattleya) need ample amounts of water during sheathing and blooming. Otherwise, they do what you described; not open fully...

Good luck with the plant! Any piccys?

-Pat

justatypn · #10 05-09-2007, 11:20 PM

Pat you took the words out of my mouth....had a customer that was talking with me about her chids and she was telling me the same scenerio and after she changed her frequency she began to see the blooms in "full".... bevoorhies give your watering regimen a look over and maybe its just thirsty ... getting older as they age they require more water