Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Maikai 'Mayumi' -- how do you make it bloom?
So a friend brings has an orchid she got from her brother or somebody
or other in Florida. It's a huge, specimen-sized plant--theoretically Brassocattleya Maikai 'Mayumi'--in one of the best-looking pots I've ever seen. Anyway, she says he can't get it to bloom so she thought she'd give it a try and it's not blooming for her either. I took home a hunk and potted it up, thinking my nice bright bay window would be just the thing. A couple of years later, I've got enthusiastic foliage growth (for an orchid), but no bloom either. Maikai 'Mayumi' is supposed to be an easy bloomer, so I'm wondering if we have something different altogether or if we're maybe missing some vital secret. Any ideas? -- Caren |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Maikai 'Mayumi' -- how do you make it bloom?
It usually boils down to light, these are high light plants, but also make
sure it gets at least a 10 degree day/night temperature variation, doesn't go below about 55F at night and maybe cut back on feeding in the winter time (or when it isn't in active growth). Usually you don't have to rest cattleyas, but hey. Its worth a try. For more light have you tried summering it outside? K Barrett "Caren" wrote in message ps.com... So a friend brings has an orchid she got from her brother or somebody or other in Florida. It's a huge, specimen-sized plant--theoretically Brassocattleya Maikai 'Mayumi'--in one of the best-looking pots I've ever seen. Anyway, she says he can't get it to bloom so she thought she'd give it a try and it's not blooming for her either. I took home a hunk and potted it up, thinking my nice bright bay window would be just the thing. A couple of years later, I've got enthusiastic foliage growth (for an orchid), but no bloom either. Maikai 'Mayumi' is supposed to be an easy bloomer, so I'm wondering if we have something different altogether or if we're maybe missing some vital secret. Any ideas? -- Caren |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Maikai 'Mayumi' -- how do you make it bloom?
K Barrett wrote: It usually boils down to light, these are high light plants, but also make sure it gets at least a 10 degree day/night temperature variation, doesn't go below about 55F at night and maybe cut back on feeding in the winter time (or when it isn't in active growth). Usually you don't have to rest cattleyas, but hey. Its worth a try. For more light have you tried summering it outside? It does summer outside in the filtered light near our ornamental grass--much more light than that and it would be in direct sun. It's certainly enough light to send our oncidiums into a summertime blooming frenzy. I'm not sure what the day/night temperature variation is in the bay--that'll be something to check. -- Caren |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Maikai 'Mayumi' -- how do you make it bloom?
Hi there Caren, I too have had this plant for years & has overgrown itself so
much so, that I was thinking of breaking it up. It seems that it gets fewer spikes/flowers each year? I have grown it in a greenhouse & outside in bright & lots of sunlight. I am told it is a primary hybrid of:- B. nodosa x C. bowringiana I have not really study the parents culture but both are easy growers. Kathy might be onto something so lets see if anyone else chimes in. -- Cheers Wendy No Spam Email Address Invalid K Barrett wrote: It usually boils down to light, these are high light plants, but also make sure it gets at least a 10 degree day/night temperature variation, doesn't go below about 55F at night and maybe cut back on feeding in the winter time (or when it isn't in active growth). Usually you don't have to rest cattleyas, but hey. Its worth a try. For more light have you tried summering it outside? K Barrett "Caren" wrote in message ps.com... So a friend brings has an orchid she got from her brother or somebody or other in Florida. It's a huge, specimen-sized plant--theoretically Brassocattleya Maikai 'Mayumi'--in one of the best-looking pots I've ever seen. Anyway, she says he can't get it to bloom so she thought she'd give it a try and it's not blooming for her either. I took home a hunk and potted it up, thinking my nice bright bay window would be just the thing. A couple of years later, I've got enthusiastic foliage growth (for an orchid), but no bloom either. Maikai 'Mayumi' is supposed to be an easy bloomer, so I'm wondering if we have something different altogether or if we're maybe missing some vital secret. Any ideas? -- Caren |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Maikai 'Mayumi' -- how do you make it bloom?
The three most common reasons for non-blooming a
1) Insufficient light 2) Insufficient food and water 3) Too much nitrogen In the case of an overgrown, pot-bound plant, it is possible that the amount of moisture/nutrient retention in the pot is limited by the mass of roots blocking the flow of liquids to the medium. The result is a degree of feeding deficiency, even if one waters and feeds the same as previously. -- Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info! "wendy7" wrote in message ... Hi there Caren, I too have had this plant for years & has overgrown itself so much so, that I was thinking of breaking it up. It seems that it gets fewer spikes/flowers each year? I have grown it in a greenhouse & outside in bright & lots of sunlight. I am told it is a primary hybrid of:- B. nodosa x C. bowringiana I have not really study the parents culture but both are easy growers. Kathy might be onto something so lets see if anyone else chimes in. -- Cheers Wendy No Spam Email Address Invalid K Barrett wrote: It usually boils down to light, these are high light plants, but also make sure it gets at least a 10 degree day/night temperature variation, doesn't go below about 55F at night and maybe cut back on feeding in the winter time (or when it isn't in active growth). Usually you don't have to rest cattleyas, but hey. Its worth a try. For more light have you tried summering it outside? K Barrett "Caren" wrote in message ps.com... So a friend brings has an orchid she got from her brother or somebody or other in Florida. It's a huge, specimen-sized plant--theoretically Brassocattleya Maikai 'Mayumi'--in one of the best-looking pots I've ever seen. Anyway, she says he can't get it to bloom so she thought she'd give it a try and it's not blooming for her either. I took home a hunk and potted it up, thinking my nice bright bay window would be just the thing. A couple of years later, I've got enthusiastic foliage growth (for an orchid), but no bloom either. Maikai 'Mayumi' is supposed to be an easy bloomer, so I'm wondering if we have something different altogether or if we're maybe missing some vital secret. Any ideas? -- Caren |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Maikai 'Mayumi' -- how do you make it bloom?
On Wed, 27 Dec 2006 22:04:43 GMT, "Ray B"
wrote: The three most common reasons for non-blooming a 1) Insufficient light 2) Insufficient food and water 3) Too much nitrogen In the case of an overgrown, pot-bound plant, it is possible that the amount of moisture/nutrient retention in the pot is limited by the mass of roots blocking the flow of liquids to the medium. The result is a degree of feeding deficiency, even if one waters and feeds the same as previously. Following Ray's thoughts - some people have used the african violet fertilizer called "Granny's Bloomers" for a feed this is low Nitrogen(1-6-5). I have never used it. It is readily available in the big boxes and garden centers, part of the reason for its usage. What you do NOT want to have is lush dark green foliage. If your getting really pretty dark green leaves you have too much nitrogen for the amount of light your supplying. I would vote for a double whammy of less nitrogen and more light. If you heat the house (I don't remember hearing where you live) and turn down the thermostat at night (most of us do to conserve $) you will naturally have a drop in night time temp. Especially as it is always cooler next to a window. I would not worry about the temp drop unless you heat to 70 all night long. Good Luck SuE http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/orchids |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Anyone have an idea to make it bloom? | Orchids | |||
If you deadhead poppies will they bloom longer? | Gardening | |||
Five resolutions to make your garden bloom in 2007 | Gardening | |||
Time to make this "abuse complaint week" against you know who! The PW of course! | Gardening | |||
What do you make of this? | alt.forestry |