Brazilian Laelia (Cattleya) Bud Watch

[SADE2020]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Thanks! I moved them into an area where I could see them better than where I grow them - it is nearly full sun, 45% shade cloth. (My Cymbidium and L. anceps area) They grow with just a little less light - under 60% shadecloth with sun above them essentially the entire day. They hang quite high (so I can walk under them) so that adds to the light that they receive. But for the few weeks that they are in bloom, that amount of extra light won't hurt them.

Also, they experience the full range of weather. In winter it gets quite cool at night (40 deg F/4 deg C, occasionally lower) and they aren't protected from rain. So they are quite robust.

I gently tease Ivan Portilla of Ecuagenera when I see him at shows... he sells L. pupurata plants labeled "Intermediate/Warm" ... I say "Please don't tell MY plants..." They certainly will grow warm (and do it very well, probably prefer it), but clearly don't require it.

understand the flowering changing place, they definitely look super robust. What about the watering ? I found mine to getting really dry now outside. How do you wet them? By spray? Every xxx days?

Thanks

[Roberta]

I water every two days in summer, every 3 days in winter (if it doesn't rain... which is most of the time) They dry out in less than a day, since they are in baskets - though in many cases most of the roots are in the air anyway. I have a sprinkler system - they are on a timer so watering is automatic (4 minutes). If it rains, I just turn the system off. But alas, that is rather rare, drought is the "new normal". This is for all of my Catts - the vast majority are hanging in that area.

[estación seca]

You have fairly good humidity, especially at night, through most of the year, don't you?

[Roberta]

Yes, overnight humidity typically is in the 70-80% range. But there are plenty of exceptions. And it drops into the 40-50% range during the day, sometimes lower. Dew is pretty rare... maybe not quite as rare as rain but still rare.

[SADE2020]

Thanks Roberta. I am actually now dreaming with your fancy setup and automation, I am pretty sure is top-top.

I have to establish a better watering maintenance because in 2-3 weeks the cats are shriving, so I'll copy the 2 days (manually for now hahaha I have high humidity at night as well but to much breeze, air circulation as well.

[Leafmite]

Beautiful! What a wonderful show!