Trouble blooming Chia Lin 'New City' Anyone else?

[silken]

I have had mine for 3 years where it sits in a greenhouse amongst other hybrid and species blooming Catts, but has yet to bloom for me. This was the first sheath mine ever developed, but no sign of buds in it yet. Maybe there are bad clones or it is virused, but no reason to suspect virus by the look of the plant or it's ability to grow roots and pseudobulbs. It was classed as a bloom size plant when I bought it.

[Cattleya17]

Well I got impatient because the shadow was not progressing so I cut a small hole in the sheath. In side were dead buds........ I'm so upset!!!! It will stay in my collection because it does want to bloom and this is the first real effort it has made. I am confident that it will bloom on the next cycle.

[silken]

I think I will find the same, or nothing. The sheath is still there and I snipped the end off the other day. But it has since half grow another growth, so that tells me it gave up on a spike a while ago.

[silken]

I peeled back the sheath, and as I suspected, two tiny rotten buds in the bottom.

I too will give this plant another chance. The new growth is getting well established and looks lovely so maybe this time

If you aren't supplementing with calcium you might want to give it a try. I am finding that since I have been adding a liquid Cal/mag to my water, many non bloomers and Catts with black rot problems are blooming and growing better. I only started last spring, so it may have been what finally encouraged this one to even try and bloom and maybe now it is on it's way to blooming.

[Cattleya17]

What are you using to supplement the calcium Epsom salts? If so I have some.

[silken]

Originally Posted by Cattleya17

What are you using to supplement the calcium Epsom salts? If so I have some.

You can use Epsom salts. I think approx. 1 Tbsp. per gallon of water. I bought a bottle of liquid Cal Max which is a Calcium/Magnesium supplement. I got it from a hydroponics store and add it with my fertilizer to the water.

Did you see the recent post this morning of Hawaiian Sunshine's beautiful Chia Lin? He said his plant is at least 12 years old and has bloomed at least 4 times. So maybe ours are just becoming mature now, even tho mine looks like a mature Cattleya.

[Cattleya17]

I did see that. It's stunning just how I remember and I'm sad I won't see it in person. I was thinking even for a plant that old having only bloomed 5 times including this current bloom is not a good record. There are many cats that bloom each year consistently. I do agree. It seems it must need to be quite mature in order to bloom on even a semi consistent basis. Mine looks mature also! Well let's hope this trial run will become the full gala event next bloom cycle.