Question about Cattlea leaf/rhysome position - Orchid Board

HighSeas · #1 06-17-2013, 01:04 PM

I happen to be one of those "peoples" who like the way orchids grow in nature. I grow Phals hanging...Catt's all wallowing in baskets (they love it!) and I've never been one to "properly" position them within a pot as you see them in the orchid shows....The Catt's leaves are all pointing up nice a pretty.....SO.....

I thought I'd give it a try with a few. Maybe have a few respectable plants that look like they were cultivated by someone who knew exactly what they were doing.

I like switching things up and doing something different every now and then....

So how in the world do they accomplish THAT without breaking/bending the new lead? Mine want to grow straight out from the rhyzome. Even if I wait until they are a little stronger/bigger they don't like the idea of being bent upwards. (they told me) Any hints? Thanks!

tucker85 · #2 06-17-2013, 01:32 PM

I think the most important factors are the DNA of the plant and the light source. Some cattleyas just have a natural tendency to grow straight up while others grow out to the side or all over. C. Crispin Rosales is a good example of an orchid that almost always grows upright.

The light source is also important. I grow my cattleyas on a porch with a screened roof so the light comes from above. Many cattleyas, but not all of them, have more of a tendency to grow upright when the light comes from above. If your cattleyas get light from one side, rather than from above, turn the orchids a quarter turn once a week.

It's also possible to use wire or velcro plant ties to tie the new pseudobulbs to a stake or to other pseudobulbs to keep them more upright but I've only had limited success with that method and it takes a lot of work readjusting the ties every so often.

Bud · #3 06-17-2013, 01:37 PM

I see some of them encase the whole plant and pot with nylon netting.
Or you can use those ring wires which you can make out of dry clean hangers.
I use a slightly taller cache pot so the real pot is about a couple of inches sunk below and the new growths tend to grow upwards....

HighSeas · #4 06-17-2013, 08:01 PM

Okay...so it's a work in progress along with lighting and good genetics. Apparently most of my Catts are lazy.

james mickelso · #5 06-17-2013, 08:35 PM

There are two fool proof ways to get the new growth to grow in a vertical orientation. One is Bud's method of potting them deeply into the pot so that the growth gets to the side and is forced to grow up along the side of the pot. Another way to to put something in the new growths way. I use plant name stakes. Here......

HighSeas · #6 06-17-2013, 09:54 PM

Thus.... The reason to order the more rigid stakes..... And spend a little more. Geez. I just ordered the cheap ones about five days ago......after deciding that I didnt need to get all "Type A" about stakes. Grrrrrr.

Island Girl · #7 06-20-2013, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighSeas

Thus.... The reason to order the more rigid stakes..... And spend a little more. Geez. I just ordered the cheap ones about five days ago......after deciding that I didnt need to get all "Type A" about stakes. Grrrrrr.

Lol, yea orchids tend to make me (& probably everyone else), spend "just a little more $$"... Or, we (but not me, nope!) do the "just one more (orchid)" thing

...Yep, you're in GOOD company!

Oh, and also, ppl on here (ie: Everyone!) including me, are terrible, horrible influences... You'll find stuff u love (and subsequently can't live without), that u would've never even heard of.. if it weren't for them...

But, I still love them all ~ the whole O.B!!! <3

and I love being addicted!

Nanook 2010 · #8 06-21-2013, 06:35 PM

I was told generally speaking if your new growths are growing horizontally vs vertical they are not getting enough light. In my experience I have found this to be accurate

james mickelso · #9 06-21-2013, 07:19 PM

I have some catts and laelias that grow horizontally and no amount of positioning will correct it unless I grow them in a well about as big as the pot. Some grow this way because their genetic makeup guides them. That is why I put rocks, stakes, or walls in front of them to force them to grow at the angle I want them to. It's not the position of the light source because I put mine in different places all the time and my light source is mostly straight overhead for most of the day. It's in the genes for the most part.