I purchase a cattleya at H.D. It was a seedling about 4" high in a tiny
pot. Cost was less than $5.00 Did I throw my money out? Took it home
and repotted in a 4" plastic pot with many drain holes on the base.
Potted it in bark wih mixture of sphagnum moss. ( for water retention)
Leaves now fairly rigid and dark green. Placed it on patio with other
orchids ( phals in flower) and it is in dappled sun. Any suggestions?
Patio faces southwest and is screend in.
Bob

Bob,

If it were me I would turn the patio southeast for that Cattleya.

Mick

=======================

"bob" wrote in message
ups.com...
I purchase a cattleya at H.D. It was a seedling about 4" high in a tiny
pot. Cost was less than $5.00 Did I throw my money out? Took it home
and repotted in a 4" plastic pot with many drain holes on the base.
Potted it in bark wih mixture of sphagnum moss. ( for water retention)
Leaves now fairly rigid and dark green. Placed it on patio with other
orchids ( phals in flower) and it is in dappled sun. Any suggestions?
Patio faces southwest and is screend in.
Bob

On Sat, 21 May 2005 16:12:11 -0400, "Mick Fournier"
"bob" wrote in message
oups.com...
I purchase a cattleya at H.D. It was a seedling about 4" high in a tiny
pot. Cost was less than $5.00 Did I throw my money out? Took it home
and repotted in a 4" plastic pot with many drain holes on the base.
Potted it in bark wih mixture of sphagnum moss. ( for water retention)
Leaves now fairly rigid and dark green. Placed it on patio with other
orchids ( phals in flower) and it is in dappled sun. Any suggestions?
Patio faces southwest and is screend in.
Bob

Now Mick, be nice.

Bob,
It will just take the seedling a long time to grow to be
blooming size. Blooming size could vary greatly depending on the
particular parents used to make the cross. Does you plant have a
small name tag in the pot? Generally they are white and have
black bold faced type with some abbreviation and the name of the
plant. The abbreviations could be C, Bc, Lc, Slc, Pot or several
others. If you can find such a tag it will help. Sometimes the
HD plants come with out any name tags and have a general
description tag that says something like Cattleya Orchid and a
couple of comments. That is next to useless. If that is the
case we will not be able to predict size to bloom.

In general you do not want to give orchids too much room when you
'pot up'. They need to be repotted into fresh mix every year and
thus need only enough room to grow the year. If they have too
much mix it is harder to even out the water cycle and easier to
over water.

As to sun. Your catt should require more sun than the phals to
bloom. For now keep it in the dappled shade and watch. IF the
leaves get very dark rich green it is not getting enough light to
use all the food you are giving it. S_L_O_W_L_Y move it to a
brighter area. It will sunburn just as you and I do, so be
careful to protect it from direct sun. If the leaves get a light
green it is probably growing as hard as it can. It should have
very hard leaves. Not soft fleshy ones like a phal. Some catts
get as stiff as shoe leather. Again this will depend on the
parents and how big they are.

Many people in RGO like to grow their plants from seedling to
bloom and feel it is more their accomplishment because it took so
long.

Good luck and have fun.



SuE
http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php

The BORG, auh I mean H.D. doesn't sell seedlings. I believe what you have
is a small blooming sized Lc. The BORG/HD has started selling a bunch of
these. Unfortunately the BORG/HD around here would rather lie than reduce
the price on their non blooming orchids. The BORG/HD "experts" when asked
about the orchids have told me.
1. LIE, the vender sets the price and only the vender can reduce it.
Truth once the plant is scanned into the BORG/HD data base the vender has
nothing to do with any more.
2. LIE, they are young plants and/or seedlings they will bloom in a month
or two.
Truth, they where blooming a couple of weeks ago and won't bloom for at
least 6 months.
3. LIE, I'll have to call a manager.
He/she was the manager and promptly disappears.
4. Synopsis the BORG/HD in this area would rather trash the orchid plant
than sell it for a reduced price.

I shop at LOWES, (even though they are a lot further away) because if and
when you do find someone and they don't know they will say I don't know
instead of giving you some stupid song and dance. A couple of months ago I
picked up a couple of out of bloom Lc. Golddigger's for $6 ea. (BORG/HD had
the same plants see lie 1.) I repotted them into 1/2" coconut husk and they
both now have new growths.

BORG= Big Orange Retail Giant.
The BORG/HD
I cant bash the BORG/HD all the time I mean I asked a BORG/HD associate a
logical question about their privacy fencing and got a nonsensical answer
that it sent me to Lowes where I promptly saved myself $10 a section.

Dusty

Dear Sue;
Thank you for the earthy information. I will slowly move the baby catt
to a more sunny location. Right now I have stips of cloth hanging in
front of the seedling so as the sun moves across the plant it will
create shady portions ( my dappling). As far as rotating the patio to
fce SE, blame the builder for the problem. Thanks for the tip on the
green leaves.
Bob

Dear Sue;
Thank you for the earthy information. I will slowly move the baby catt
to a more sunny location. Right now I have stips of cloth hanging in
front of the seedling so as the sun moves across the plant it will
create shady portions ( my dappling). As far as rotating the patio to
fce SE, blame the builder for the problem. Thanks for the tip on the
green leaves.
Bob

Dear Sue;
Thank you for the earthy information. I will slowly move the baby catt
to a more sunny location. Right now I have stips of cloth hanging in
front of the seedling so as the sun moves across the plant it will
create shady portions ( my dappling). As far as rotating the patio to
fce SE, blame the builder for the problem. Thanks for the tip on the
green leaves.
Bob

Hi again sue;

Forgot to maention that there was a plastic insert in the original pot
(2") It said (Blc Fred Stewart- Pot Ikuko Akatsuka).
Th pinted matetr that was stapled to the plant cover saying " large
dark purpl-new hybred cattaleya orchid". There is a picture that can
make anyone drool.
I labled the plastic sticker with the date of transplant
Bob

Dusty,

I think you're painting with too broad a brush. What happens at one Big
Orange Box or Lowes doesn't mean the same is true universally. It's likely
the personalities of the people you're dealing with than the philosophy of
the chain. I have three HD's and two Lowes accessible to me between home
and work, and they are a whole spectrum by themselves. Broaden the
geography and all bets are off.

I have seen seedlings at my local store, but orchid sales in those places
tend to be impulse buys, so a plant in bloom is more likely to sell. It's
basic marketing.



--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!


"dusty" wrote in message
...
The BORG, auh I mean H.D. doesn't sell seedlings. I believe what you have
is a small blooming sized Lc. The BORG/HD has started selling a bunch of
these. Unfortunately the BORG/HD around here would rather lie than reduce
the price on their non blooming orchids. The BORG/HD "experts" when asked
about the orchids have told me.
1. LIE, the vender sets the price and only the vender can reduce it.
Truth once the plant is scanned into the BORG/HD data base the vender has
nothing to do with any more.
2. LIE, they are young plants and/or seedlings they will bloom in a month
or two.
Truth, they where blooming a couple of weeks ago and won't bloom for at
least 6 months.
3. LIE, I'll have to call a manager.
He/she was the manager and promptly disappears.
4. Synopsis the BORG/HD in this area would rather trash the orchid plant
than sell it for a reduced price.

I shop at LOWES, (even though they are a lot further away) because if and
when you do find someone and they don't know they will say I don't know
instead of giving you some stupid song and dance. A couple of months ago I
picked up a couple of out of bloom Lc. Golddigger's for $6 ea. (BORG/HD
had
the same plants see lie 1.) I repotted them into 1/2" coconut husk and
they
both now have new growths.

BORG= Big Orange Retail Giant.
The BORG/HD
I cant bash the BORG/HD all the time I mean I asked a BORG/HD associate a
logical question about their privacy fencing and got a nonsensical
answer
that it sent me to Lowes where I promptly saved myself $10 a section.

Dusty

bob wrote:
Hi again sue;

Forgot to maention that there was a plastic insert in the original
pot
(2") It said (Blc Fred Stewart- Pot Ikuko Akatsuka).
Th pinted matetr that was stapled to the plant cover saying " large
dark purpl-new hybred cattaleya orchid". There is a picture that can
make anyone drool.
I labled the plastic sticker with the date of transplant
Bob


Good you got a plant identification. A link to one of the parents
cross is below
http://www.fendersflora.com/picture....patriciaphelps

an unbloomed cross may look different than the photo you received.
However the cross should give nice looking blooms on a smaller more
manageable plant than a Blc. It should also bloom younger so that you
can see results sooner.

If you give it too much sun after transplanting, you may have problems.
Try and get the roots established into the medium with extra humidity
below the pot. Providing shade and filtered light is a very good idea.
You may want to move it out of any direct sun from the window for a
while. Sunburn will show on a "flat" surface of the leaf facing the
most intense light. The back (underside) of the leaves are most
susceptable. Watch the leaves for places that turn a lighter color.

Good luck.

On 22 May 2005 06:04:50 -0700, "bob" wrote:

Hi again sue;

Forgot to maention that there was a plastic insert in the original pot
(2") It said (Blc Fred Stewart- Pot Ikuko Akatsuka).
Th pinted matetr that was stapled to the plant cover saying " large
dark purpl-new hybred cattaleya orchid". There is a picture that can
make anyone drool.
I labled the plastic sticker with the date of transplant
Bob

It belongs to a cross registered in 1991 by Akatsuka Orchid
Gardens. There has been one plant from that cross awarded, It
was in Texas in the fall of 1990 and the flowers were described
as: solid cerise-magenta; petals and lip lightly ruffled; lip
broadening cone shaped, with light yellow eyes and stippling
basally, magenta apically; column cerise-magenta; texture
sparkling.

Since you said it was in a net bag - I believe it is a seedling
and will grow up to be over 8" tall in plant size before it
blooms. This is a very large generalization. So keep it healthy
and growing strong, with enough light it will bloom earlier. But
you are undoubtedly looking at 2-4 years of growing.

Good growing.
SuE
http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php

Actually, the hybrid has been names Potinara Mitsuo Akatsuka.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!


"Nancy G." wrote in message
oups.com...

bob wrote:
Hi again sue;

Forgot to maention that there was a plastic insert in the original
pot
(2") It said (Blc Fred Stewart- Pot Ikuko Akatsuka).
Th pinted matetr that was stapled to the plant cover saying " large
dark purpl-new hybred cattaleya orchid". There is a picture that can
make anyone drool.
I labled the plastic sticker with the date of transplant
Bob


Good you got a plant identification. A link to one of the parents
cross is below
http://www.fendersflora.com/picture....patriciaphelps

an unbloomed cross may look different than the photo you received.
However the cross should give nice looking blooms on a smaller more
manageable plant than a Blc. It should also bloom younger so that you
can see results sooner.

If you give it too much sun after transplanting, you may have problems.
Try and get the roots established into the medium with extra humidity
below the pot. Providing shade and filtered light is a very good idea.
You may want to move it out of any direct sun from the window for a
while. Sunburn will show on a "flat" surface of the leaf facing the
most intense light. The back (underside) of the leaves are most
susceptable. Watch the leaves for places that turn a lighter color.

Good luck.

On Sun, 22 May 2005 09:12:41 -0400, "Ray"
wrote:

Dusty,

I think you're painting with too broad a brush. What happens at one Big
Orange Box or Lowes doesn't mean the same is true universally. It's likely
the personalities of the people you're dealing with than the philosophy of
the chain. I have three HD's and two Lowes accessible to me between home
and work, and they are a whole spectrum by themselves. Broaden the
geography and all bets are off.

I have seen seedlings at my local store, but orchid sales in those places
tend to be impulse buys, so a plant in bloom is more likely to sell. It's
basic marketing.
Ray

I have heard others say they get discounts at HD. But my local
HD is just as Dusty described.
1 The manager said he could ship the dead plants back for full
refund. I just looked at him. Even he did not believe what he
just said.
2 He said he could not discount because you could bring it back
for a full refund of the purchase price (regular price) under
their grow or replace policy.
3 He would not discount because it was too easy for his
employees to cause the plants sudden decline to earn discounts
for friends or selves.
4 He maintained a dead ascda on the display floor at full price
for 1 month after any green disappeared on the poor desiccated
thing.
SuE
http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php

Susan Erickson wrote in
:

On Sun, 22 May 2005 09:12:41 -0400, "Ray"
wrote:

Dusty,

I think you're painting with too broad a brush. What happens at one
Big Orange Box or Lowes doesn't mean the same is true universally.
It's likely the personalities of the people you're dealing with than
the philosophy of the chain. I have three HD's and two Lowes
accessible to me between home and work, and they are a whole spectrum
by themselves. Broaden the geography and all bets are off.

I have seen seedlings at my local store, but orchid sales in those
places tend to be impulse buys, so a plant in bloom is more likely to
sell. It's basic marketing.
Ray

I have heard others say they get discounts at HD. But my local
HD is just as Dusty described.
1 The manager said he could ship the dead plants back for full
refund. I just looked at him. Even he did not believe what he
just said.
2 He said he could not discount because you could bring it back
for a full refund of the purchase price (regular price) under
their grow or replace policy.
3 He would not discount because it was too easy for his
employees to cause the plants sudden decline to earn discounts
for friends or selves.
4 He maintained a dead ascda on the display floor at full price
for 1 month after any green disappeared on the poor desiccated
thing.
SuE
http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php


I have 4 HD's who all sing the same song but I've talked to the venders and
once the plant goes on the shelf it is theirs no refunds. It must have to
do with training, who knows. what is really strange is they have no such
problem in discounting trees which also have a 1 year under their grow or
replace policy. Some HD's now have trees 50% off.

Bob, you gotta admit turning the patio itself around was pretty funny.
I just wondered if your plants are outside do you ever have problems
with the dreaded mealies? Burr