|
|
catalaya orchid |
| Orchid Care > Catalaya Orchid |
Catalaya Orchid
You may recognize the catalya orchid as the orchid used in corsages. Those would be the striking catalya orchid alright.|
|
The catalaya orchid thrives in bright filtered light for most of the day. Just make sure it's not direct sunlight. It will burn in direct sunlight. You'll know it's getting enough light if the leaves have a kinda yellowish cast to them. Understanding Catalaya
If you look close you'll notice there's a sheath in the tubular base of the leaf around the flower spike. That sheath growing out of its lead (the newest leaf and its thickened stem) promises more flowers to come
|
It also acts as protection from bugs until the flowers are large enough to break through the covering and prepare to bloom. After the plant blooms, you'll want to remove the flower spike and the old sheath.
In some cases the sheath may be dry and not produce blooms, but that dryness shouldn't be a problem. Go ahead and keep the sheath and see if it blooms next year.
Dry sheaths are most common with catalaya mossiae and its hybdrids and catalaya skinneri. If the hybrid sheath yellows, cut open the top to allow the air to come in.
Spring bloom catalayas may grow buds in the dry sheaths on the previous year's growth. As such these require more water in the spring.
After blossoming don't fertilize much until the new growths start. Catalaya orchids need a few weeks' "resting time" after they bloom. You can water then. Just not as often.
If you repot, you can remove the old pseudobulbs which have lost their leaves.
Whatever you do don't be discouraged with a younger plant. A catalaya orchid can take five years to bloom.
|
Catalaya Orchid |
|
|
All Rights Reserved 2004-2005