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Growing Orchids: October in St. Augustine
Based on Robert Scully's articles, courtesy of AOS
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General Orchid Growing Tips
We usually receive our first cold snap around Halloween, so if you are growing outdoors, this is the time for you to make your winter preparations. Check your winter structure, test fire your heaters and start cleaning your plants. With the shortening days and cooler temperatures, your plants require less water and fertilizer now. Observe the rate at which your plants dry out after watering and make adjustments, gradually adding days in between your normally watering cycle. |
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Cattleyas
Sophronitis coccinea enjoys a peak flowering season this month. Some of its hybrids should also be blooming, particularly those with summer-fall flowering parents. While the plants are usually small, the show of color makes them conspicuous. Also blooming now is Enc. cochleata, Epi. ciliare and Epi. pseudepidendrum. |
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Phalaenopsis
Phal. hieroglyphica flowers reliably in the autumn. Its fragrant pale yellow flowers are distinctively marked with well defined brown lines on the sepals and petals. Phal. equestris and Phal. lindenii may also show their best now, the former may be everblooming through spring and the later will arouse curiosity with its attractively striped lip. |
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Miscellaneous Genera: Catasetum and Cycnoches
You should be seeing flowers of Ctsm. pileatum and its hybrids now. Handle these and all catasetums with care when the blooms are open because a minor jarring of the plant can cause the flowers to eject their pollen-carrying anther caps, resulting in a much shortened flower life. This interesting and unique method of natural pollen dissemination is always a stimulating topic of conversation for those seeing it occur for the first time. |
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