My new $3 Cattleya...that looks like a $3 Cattleya

[Nanook 2010]

Saw this one at Lowes yesterday and talked manager into 75% off.

Soaked overnight in weak concentration of superthrive and 20-10-20

Washed out plastic pot with soap and water and repotted with LECA

We'll see if I get "cheap" results!

[Silje]

Looks like it still got some reserves in the bulbs. Do you see any eyes?

Good luck!

[james mickelso]

Hydroton holds a lot of water. This catt will grow new buds from the base of the newest pbulb. Take off the hyroton from around the bases of the pbulbs. let the "eyes' see some light. That will stimuklate them into growing. Don't fertilize it. Don't kill it with too much water. The roots aren't taking up much water anyway. the pbulbs are as hydrated as they can get so don't need much water. they are resting and getting ready to push new growth from their bases. Let it get dry. Right now where these come from it is the dry season with little to no rain. They are basically dormant.

[Nanook 2010]

James.....

Dormant? Every one of my other cats are pushing out new growths, and its summer........dormant?

Everything I've read says during summer cats need much more water.....where are you getting your info from?

[pipsxlch]

I think he was saying conditions it has been kept in recently have put it into dormancy. I have a Sweet Norma I got reduced recently because it was even worse (same size but new growth had suffered trauma and rotted), and it has a new lead started and almost an inch long now. Yours should do fine, your care should encourage it to start growing.

[james mickelso]

That depends on what the parents are and from what I see here, there is no new growth yet from the base. The catts finish their growth and then rest. Whether they put on flowers or just finish their new pbulbs, they rest. When they start pushing out new growth from the base of the newest pbulb, they are coming out of rest. The pbulbs I see in the pics have finished their growth cycle. It is the dry season in their native environment and they are waiting for the rains to start. It is summer up here but what season is it where catts originated? Most of mine are pushing out new growth or even flowers. But I have some which have finished their growth cycle and are resting, full of starch, sugar, and water. Initiating new growth buds down at the cellular level. Watch the base of this and the bud eye will all of a sudden start to swell. It's really cool to watch.

[Nanook 2010]

James....

The more I think about your comments, the more it makes sense....

This Cat had just finished flowering...so I can see it entering a dormant phase

Will keep an eye on it.....