Orchid Culture - Questions & Answers from This Month

Cattleya Flower Blighting

Q. Is this botrytis on my cattleya? The spots spread rapidly and are sunken.
A. It may be a botrytis fungal infection, but it seems like the splotches are too big unless it's been there for a while. With it happening fast, perhaps it's more likely that it is bacterial rather than fungal blighting. Your reaction, cutting off all the flowers and disposing of them, and then a follow up copper spray should take care of the problem.   (Jun-24)

Pot vs. Basket for Miltonia

Q. I read Miltonia spectabilis var. moreliana grows well in baskets but I don’t seem to be growing this one very well. I’ve had it 2.5 years and no blooms. Should I take it out of the basket? It looks very yellow to me.
A. It should do better in a basket than in a pot. It really likes is to grow around the outside of a pot rather than in a pot, so the basket should work well for you. Don't disturb it while it is growing so well. I think it's just got to get a little older. It is a fall bloomer, so maybe you'll get a bud or three this year. It looks like it's getting plenty of light, no problem there. You can always add time release fertilizer to your plants in the spring if you don't have the time or inclination to use water soluble fertilizers. Be patient, you will be rewarded soon.   (Jun-24)

Phal Flowers Dropped

Q. Within one week, this orchid which I purchased about 2 months ago, has dropped most of its blooms and gotten one yellow leaf. Is this normal?
A. That's pretty normal. You can usually expect a phal to bloom for three months, sometimes longer. You don't know how long it was in bloom before you bought it. Now is the time to cut back the bloom spike and think about repotting it, if it needs repotting, so it can recover from the transplant shock and start gathering its strength for next year's blooms.   (Jun-24)