Hi, Barb. How much light are your catts getting outdoors in summer? Assuming they're mature, they need a lot more light than oncids in order to bloom. They also take longer from seedling to blooming size.

I grew them for three or four years, and each summer I kept increasing the light, and putting them out earlier. They got full sun (after acclimating) as long as temps were in the low 80's. In the hot part of the summer, I was giving them morning sun til about 11AM-12, 65% shade from app 12-3, then sun again. So they were getting full sun except for the 3-4 hottest hours of direct overhead sun.

Most can take temperatures to 50F quite easily, and some (ones with a lot of laelia) can take temperatures to 40 or so without blinking. The best blooms I got came the last year, when I left them out in September and October til the temps started to hit 40 consistently.

About your watering-- that could be an issue if you are keeping them too dry while outdoors in summer. In summer, watering has to be increased, especially outdoors.

What you are trying to do in summer is to foster *growth*. You increase light, water and fertilizer, and they respond with good growth. This will be especially critical for catts because they are going to bloom only from a *new, AND mature* pseudobulb. If you can't get one started and grow it to maturity in one summer, you're out the blooms.

If your underwatering is slowing the growth in summer, it could be hindering the full development of the pbs.

Some "catts", those with lots of brassavola in them, have smaller pbs that mature more easily, and are easier to bloom. They still need a lot of light, tho.

Hope this helps.

I agree with Mehitabel. Your catts need more light. I was not getting any bloom until I put them outside. I'm also in New Jersey and when the plants are outside they get lots of full sun, early in the morning til noon, then bright shade, and again in late afternoon. The leaves are bright yellow-green. This summer sun helps the plants to bloom in the winter.

In the house they are right up against the glass in a south window.

I agree with all the comments posted here. Cattleyas in general require bright indirect light. In fact, I gave my plants a bit too much this summer in my greennhouse and some burned. (I forgot to put up the shade paint in time). But with bright light and good feeding comes good blooming. Never over-water a cattleya. But also, in the heat of the summer, they may require more watering. Depends where you are growing the plant. Indoors, then the plant's medium will not dry out as fast. So avoid over-watering. And as mentioned in above opinions, not only quality of light but day length of light is important. If your plant goes into shade for half the day. Well, that isn't enough. Remember, in the wild, these plants are growing up in the canopy of tall trees. They get filtered light throughout the day. What we are trying to do is emulate nature. Good air movement too. Stagnant air is bad.

Thanks, guys for all the feedback. I'll definitely try more light!!! I'm working on the watering. Now that I'm seeing results, I'm more attentive to my orchids needs.

Barbara

Barb, if you aren't already familiar with the newsletter and culture notes at Fender's Flora, try them. Fender's is a catt specialist, and their newsletter and notes are so good-- many are applicable to orchids in general, and they cover the whole range of issues.

Newsletter:

http://www.fendersflora.com/newsletter.asp

Here is a link that might be useful: Fender's Flora, notes