Rest Period for Hybrid Cattleya

[DebsC]

For those of you that grow hybrid catts, do you provide a rest period for them? Although I've grown catts for a long time, this will be my second winter growing in a greenhouse.

My catts grow year around without a rest because even though the night temps can get as cool as 55 F, the days get in the mid 80's.

Will the plant grow better with rest? Be healthier? Will next years new growths be bigger?

Thanks!

[Ray]

Because of my limited time, I water and feed all plants the same, and that means no rest for anything. My catts grow and bloom regularly.

There are several reasons your new growths could be smaller than the older ones, but the most likely is insufficient nutrition. That can be caused by simply not feeding enough. Keeping them too dry can do that too, as the nutrients can only be absorbed as mineral ions in solution.

I don't know if it's universal, but catts tend to respond more to changes in day length than temperatures for inducing blooming.

[DebsC]

Thanks Ray, my new growths are bigger than the one before. But I have a friend that gives his entire greenhouse a rest in December and January and swears his plants are healthier and more robust.

Seeing his catts, I'd have to agree he's most certainly doing something right! I just wondered if anyone else followed that procedure.

I'd like to try it but I don't know if I could as it seems I have new growths year around.