Blc. Hawaiian Leopard growing question

[silken]

I received a good sized division of Blc. Hawaiian Leopard. It very quickly put up 3 new growths this summer not long after I got it and it had been newly divided at the time. I had it under lights with several other cattleyas. I use two 4 ft. T12 bulbs and 2 4 ft. T5 bulbs mounted on the outer edges of the T12 canopy. The 3 new growths seem to have all quit growing when they were about 2 inches tall and all seem to be a dark green with reddish tinge to them. Is this common with this plant's new growths or is it getting too much light? That would be my thought although most of my cattleya's do fine under these lights. Also the mature leaves are not being tinged red. I did try moving it to less light for a month or so and there is still no change-they just seem stalled. I don't think they have put out much for roots either and I am worried that they will die on me.

[orchidsamore]

It is very common for Cattleya divisions to put up new growth quickly after dividing.

If I cut Cattleya three months before blooming season I can get blooms on the divisions.

New growth can have different shades than older growth and usually does not mean anything. Red tinge can also mean magnesium deficiency rather than sunburn. Your new potting medium is sterile and takes time to break down sufficient to feed the orchids.

Add epson salt at 1 tablespoon per gallon to your fertilizer and see if it helps. The magnesium in the epson salt is safe at this level.

[orchidsamore]

Your orchid has been reclassified as
Rhynchobrassoleya Hawaiian Leopard

10 generations back your plant started with a cross of B. digbyana which has been reclassified into a new sub-family Rhyncolaelio

All the non-Mexican Laelia have been reclassified as Cattleya

So this is a Rhyncolaelio x Bassovola x Cattleya


here is a photo

[tucker85]

I have a Blc. Hawaiian Leopard. It grows best in very bright light and standard Catt culture. It's a fast growing plant during the summer months. Mine has always been a very reliable bloomer. I grow mostly Catts and I often see new growths that just stop growing for a period of time. Eventually they start growing again. I just figure the plant is using it's energy for something else during that time. I wouldn't worry about it. I would bet my paycheck that it's not getting too much light. Some of my plants get red tinged for a while and it generally goes away. I've tried giving them magnesium by using epson salt but it didn't seem to make a difference. It usually goes away on it's own eventually. Good luck! It's a nice orchid.

[silken]

Thanks for the good information Orichidsamore and Tucker85. I hope the new growths will do something before spring comes. Good to know about the re-classification, although I just had the old naming finally more clearly in my mind and now I can start over with new names!

When you mention Epsom salts, are they the kind you get to soak your feet or bathe in or the kind to ingest orally? I have used the bath tub variety on tomatoes, but didn't care so much if it wasn't the right kind. I don't want to lose my orchid!

[tucker85]

I get my epson salts in a large bag from the drug store. On the front it says "soaking aid, laxative, and plant health". I use it three or four times a year at one tablespoon per gallon but admit that I don't know if it's doing anything at all.

[silken]

Thanks. The fact that it says laxative, as well as the soaking etc. makes me think both kinds are one and the same! I will give it a try. I don't think it can hurt and may be what this plant needs.