by Susan Taylor
Originally published in BellaOnline
Foliar fertilizing promotes better growth
During the peak growing months of summer use a very dilute foliar fertilizer (half normal strength) with 1/2 teaspoon per gallon soap as a wetting agent so that the fertilizer will stay on the leaves long enough to allow the plant to absorb the nutrients. Be sure to spray early in the morning before the sun gets to the plants and provide excellent air circulation to allow for rapid evaporation to prevent rots. Be very careful with the crowns of Phals and Paphs.
Increase your watering for outdoor plants
Outdoor or greenhouse plants will need additional water during the warmest months of the year. In most areas this is their peak growing season. In the hottest areas they will almost go into a hibernation period. Watch out for under watering signs such as wrinkled pseudobulbs, especially on Oncidiums and Cattleyas. I put extra sphagnum moss around those plants that appear to have problems with the heat and then spray early in the morning making sure that the moss gets some water. You increase your humidity this way and the plants will pull water out of the moss if they need it.
Phalaenopsis or Moth Orchids
Phals can still be in full bloom by the middle of the summer. If you want them to re-flower next year, cut back the inflorescences around the middle or end of July even if they’re still looking good. This will allow the plants to concentrate on growing and gathering energy to flower next year. If repotting is necessary, go ahead and repot now. If you bought new plants make sure you repot. Many Phals are sold in straight sphagnum moss and this medium is too soggy for most plants for long. Repot in coconut husk or bark mix.
Paphiopedilum and Slipper Orchids
Phragmipediums will need constant moisture during the hot summer months. I grow mine in a saucer of water year round to provide this moisture. Semi-hydroponic culture is even better. They need lots of light in order to produce flowers. Paphiopedilums also like warm temperatures, but require low light so as to keep the leaves from burning. Check the pots often during warm months to make sure that the moisture they need is provided at all times.
Cattleya Alliance Plants
Watch for roots on your fall blooming Catts and when the roots are about 1/2 inch or 2 centimeters long, repot them if necessary in appropriate medium. Watch your plants for over- and under-watering problems and rots during this growth period. A monthly application of fungicide will help reduce the chances of all kinds of rots.
Malaysia, it requires shady, humid conditions, like one would find in a tropical forest. The flowers are produced in the summer and fall on short inflorescences and can have 2 to 3 highly fragrant flowers open at a time. One nice item about this plant is that the inflorescence on older plants can rebloom year after tear so don’t cut off any green viable inflorescences.
Native to Mexico and Central America its found in forests growing on large tree branches. The bright, long-lasting flowers are produced in the summer on an 15 inflorescence.
The flowers are produced during the winter and early spring. New growth begins shortly after flowering finishes in the early spring and continues to August. The sheaths are formed when the growth matures but the flower buds do not start to grow until November. Give typical cattleya growing conditions – very bright light is a must. There are some additional varieties available such as C. trianae v mooreana which has a dark splash on each petal. At one time there were more named variety of this species than any other Cattleya. Cattleya trianae is endangered in its natural habitat as a result of environmental degradation and urbanization.
Species of the month: Eria rosea
Of these, M. picta is one of the prettiest. This warn to cool growing species is native to Brazil and Argentina and blooms from winter to spring. The fragrant yellow flowers are marked with red and have white lips and a mature plant can make a spectacular display when it’s in bloom.
A Florida native, also found in the Caribbean and Mexico in dry scrub forest and tropical deciduous forests as a hot to warm growing miniature to small sized epiphyte. It is found from sea level to 150 meters in elevation, it is commonly called the dollar orchid for the shape of it pseudobulbs; it grows best on a mount in bright light and blooms in the summer.
Like many cattleya species, other color forms include alba, semi-alba, and coerulea, as well as its normal pink. These plants are fragrant, although the scent is not pleasing to all.
It is an easy to grow miniature which blooms from summer to fall on an inflorescence which carries between 6 to 8 inch long flowers in a loose umbel above the foliage. Well grown plants can be very floriferous and give quite a display.
It will thrive in temperatures from 20 degrees F. (-5 degrees C) to 100 degrees F (32 degrees F) as long as it is given enough moisture. It is known as a vigorous grower of medium size with long inflorescences from which it will have 3-5 lavender flowers measuring three to four inches. They are known for their Christmas blooming period although they can bloom from November to January.