Help with Azure Sky
 

After trying my hand with phalaenopsis and cymbidium orchids, I bought a Cattleya "Azure Sky" a few months ago (and a Dendrobium Aggregatum, but that's a whole frustrating other story). I'm frankly at a loss with it. I found it very hard to pot and I'm not quite sure what to do with it in the winter time. I've put it on winter rest with reduced water and lower temperatures, but I'm not sure that's right for this orchid and I can't find anything specific online. Any suggestions? The pseudobulbs are shriveling and I'm starting to get worried.

It looks to be in desperate need of more water - and perhaps more humidity. Bark media will dry quite quickly in a basket.

Catts in general don't need much of a winter rest (even species that supposedly do, prefer some water over the winter in my experience) If temperatures are lower and humidity higher, then you can cut back on water to maintain the wet-dry cycle that they crave. But if indoors, the humidity is probably quite low because of heating - meaning that it needs MORE water, not less. It's probably going to sulk somewhat since potting probably was not at the ideal time (when new roots are just starting) but sometimes a new plant needs new media desperately just because the old stuff is broken down and too wet and airless. But with fresh bark, it's going to need fairly frequent (at least twice a week) watering. Water well - under the faucet, so water runs through the bark and it is thoroughly wet. Then let it drain, and repeat in a few days when it has dried out. Give it as much light as you can - winter light in northern latitudes is going to be marginal, but the plant should be OK until spring.

When you repot, ditch the basket. They're cute but, they dry out VERY fast. Very.

Ha. Good to know. I had a hard time finding a pot that it would fit in (it's so much wider than my other orchids!). Any recommendations? And thanks to everyone for the advice. I have definitely been starving this poor thing.

One more question, I have all of my orchids together on a bar cart with grow lights next to a window with a humidifier. My cymbidiums and phals are spiking and seem to be loving the cold. Should I move the cattleyas to a different area to avoid the chill?

What is the temperature there?

I try to keep it around 68 degrees although there is some variation.

I am not very experienced with Catts. Someone else will chime in this evening. However, my porch goes down to
64f at night and mine seem fine.

Stay warm tonight, the Alberta Clipper is coming in.

Your humidity levels are precious information.
Can you measure them?

I took the liberty of looking up the parentage of Lc. Azure Skies (I think that is probably what it is). It's a complex hybrid, but it does have some cold-tolerant parents in there. 55-60 deg F at night should be no problem at all. I would not even worry much about humidity... you can make up for lack of humidity by simply watering more often. I actually like that basket - once you get past winter, that's perfect for good Cattleya root growth. (I'm using wood baskets as I repot my Catts in general, and they love them) The large bark as well. You're going to have to fight it a bit in the low humidity caused by winter heating, but come spring it'll probably take off. To help maintain humidity, you might set that basket in a pot (or even just wrap it up with saran wrap or equivalent around the sides... not the bottom, it has to be able to drain) Once the weather warms up, you can set it free outside for the spring/summer and you should have a really happy plant.

Roberta, I agree with the Saran wrap but, our climate is very different from yours...

Very true... but we have low humidity too, outside instead of inside. I expect midday RH somewhere between 10% and 20% (maybe even lower) for most of the rest of this week through the weekend. I will be watering a lot even if the calendar DOES say December. I compensate for low humidity and zero rain with a hose... I'll worry about the water bill next year.

---------- Post added at 05:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:55 PM ----------

Never mind mid-day... right now at 5 PM, outdoor RH is 22%. I think we're in for single digits. As for the water bill, IOM (It's Only Money) ... orchids will be given what they need.

Wow. Thank you Roberta et. al. for this invaluable advice and information about the plants parentage. I will get my saran wrap out immediately and hope for a recovery in the spring. My humidity is currently at 50% and I just ordered a new humidifier to try and get it even higher. This plants poor state is really my fault because I stopped watering my Dendrobium Aggregatum after Halloween and I radically pulled back with the Azure Skies as well. Not knowing much about either I treated both pesudobulbous orchids similarly, which was clearly a mistake.

When in doubt, ask right away!

I'm with the others, water that poor thing, ha ha ha. I could never plant one in a basket like that, I'm like Dollythehun and would be watering it twice a day. I at first started drilling holes in my clay pots because I was worried they would rot. I have stopped that little chore and am now running water through them plus leaving water in the saucer and I'm still not giving them enough.