c Walkeriana - Growths with no leaves or flowers - Orchid Board

Clawhammer · #1 12-18-2023, 08:55 AM

Hello All.

I have a cattleya walkeriana with odd growths. They look like they should be new growths with leaves (not flower spikes) but they never grow a leaf (or it blasts??). Just a bunch of pseudobulbs with no leaves. Any idea what's happening?

isurus79 · #2 12-18-2023, 12:55 PM

Photos would help!

Clawhammer · #3 12-18-2023, 01:15 PM

Basically this plant grew normally for the first year and has only put out these weird growths for the past two. Flowering multiple other walkeriana in the same room. The one on the bottom right is new

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Untitled by Eric, on Flickr[/IMG]

isurus79 · #4 12-18-2023, 02:58 PM

Most of those look like aborted bloom spikes. I have seen than many times on my walkeriana with interrupted bloom cycles from influence of light at night. Could that be an issue?

Clawhammer · #5 12-19-2023, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isurus79

Most of those look like aborted bloom spikes. I have seen than many times on my walkeriana with interrupted bloom cycles from influence of light at night. Could that be an issue?

The plant is in the basement, no windows, closed door. As dark as dark can get.

isurus79 · #6 12-19-2023, 08:50 AM

Shoot, then I'm stumped! Something is causing those bloom spikes to abort. Any other ideas?

Clawhammer · #7 12-19-2023, 08:58 AM

I'm totally stumped too. Its about half aborted new growths and half flower spikes. It hasn't had a new flower or leaf in two years. Watering seems to be right, humidity is 75-80% consistently. never gets too cold (min 67). Laelia jongheana is blooming right behind it. The neighbor seedling in this tray are all growing wonderfully.

isurus79 · #8 12-19-2023, 01:41 PM

Can you let it get colder? They get down to just above freezing in nature.

Ray · #9 12-19-2023, 02:22 PM

How about feeding and watering?

Those growths look smaller than the older ones, suggesting they just don't have the resources to continue growing.

Clawhammer · #10 12-19-2023, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray

How about feeding and watering?

Those growths look smaller than the older ones, suggesting they just don't have the resources to continue growing.

I water thoroughly with a fert injected hose at a target of 25ppm nitrogen every watering. Cattleya Rex is flowering in the next tray. Good point about the smaller growths, but I don't think its a resource issue. Could a virus/pathogen be causing weaker growth?

---------- Post added at 12:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:22 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by isurus79

Can you let it get colder? They get down to just above freezing in nature.

I am going to move it to the cool/intermediate room for the rest of the winter and see if that helps. Thanks for the suggestions!