Cattleya bloom time?

[Lagoon]

Hi Everyone

I've got a catt I've been growing out as a tiny seedling for over 4 years, its gotten to be a bit of a honker. The only thing is, its not bloomed yet and I don't recall when the bloom time was. I think its a spring blooomer, but I don't recall for sure.

When is prime time for -- BLC.Morning Song (Bl.Morning Glory x Lc.Melody fair)

Many Thanks!

[Lagoon]

Thanks for you're reply Jan

[catwalker808]

In the northern hemisphere it blooms in the late fall to early winter. Since you are so far north, it may go to spring.

[johnblagg]

It would also depend on if they get any arfificial light too.If the light in the room they are in is on after the sun goes down then it might alter the bloom time there are short day and long day types .....summer bloomers and fall and spring bloomers and the winter bloomers so you might have to take that into account.

[catwalker808]

Yes, good point. Artificial light does affect blooming. Day length affects when Morning Song initiates. Under natural light, the bloom would be late fall, early winter to spring, depending where you are, because your day length and temps would vary. Shorter day length would trigger earlier initiation, but cooler temps would also slow down flower development considerably. So under NATURAL light, the time frame probably would still hold true.

With strong enough artificial light, and major manipulation of intensity and duration of available light (day length) and temperature, we could influence or control bloom time and bloom quality.

[Lagoon]

This catt sits under lights for a 14hr period, its been like that pretty much since I've gotten it. Guess Its time for some change. I think I'll try a cooler southwest window for a few weeks and see what happends.

Thank you both, Cat & John for you're replies

[SP2340]

I usually stop fertilizing a plant when I see the pseudobulbs starting to get plump. Make it think it's food supply has stopped and it's time to reproduce before before it dies.... it doesn't work all the time but in my mind it makes sense.

[catwalker808]

Good idea Lagoon. Your plant needs long hours and high intensity lights for proper "summer" growth. But it's probably the shorter day length (fewer hours of light) that trigger this particular plant to bloom. Even low intensity light from growing lights count as day length in the plant's light-dark biorhythm. So you still have 14 hour "summer" days, as far as the plant is concerned.

[Lagoon]

I never stop the feedings no matter what time of year. I feed every 2 weeks - during the winter months I tend to feed lighter, but don't stop it altogether.

I think thats the key word - 'trigger'
I've given it everything else that I can think of 'cept a cool down and the lesser lighting period. Sure is worth a try.

Thanks for you're thoughts

[catwalker808]

Lagoon. The primary influence is probably day length. We regularly bloomed many in late November and we don't get below 70 prior to that. I'm sure you have been much cooler the last 2 months. However, from 14 hours of daylight in the summer, we drop to about 11 hours now and maybe 10 hours next month.

We registered this hybrid a while back. It's very pretty ... fuller and more colorful than Morning Glory, but nowhere as full as Melody Fair. Morning Glory x Melody Fair ... Morning Melody really tripped up the tongue, so it became Morning Song.

The plants produce quite a long lasting display of flowers at a time of year when there are few others, but as you already know, the plants become quite large. We have tried to keep our other hybrids much smaller. Good luck blooming it.