How to judge whether the Cattleya schiedeana can bloom this year
The web introduces how to judge whether the Cattleya schiedeana can bloom this year and the related knowledge of noticeable signs in the spring and summer seasons. Let's understand this together.
Whether Cattleya schiedeana can bloom this year can already be seen in the spring and summer seasons. If no new branches or leaves grow in the spring and summer, it will be difficult for it to bloom in the autumn.
Cattleya schiedeana is a epiphytic shrub that can grow to a height of two to three meters (even taller when planted in the ground). The main trunk at the base of the plant continues to age into a cylindrical shape, and the branches at the bottom become lignified. It grows many small branches. If it can grow many small branches in spring and summer, it has a high chance of blooming in autumn.
In the autumn with clear skies and cool temperatures, Cattleya schiedeana begins to develop flower buds. With sufficient lighting and adequate nutrients, the branches it grows in spring and summer can normally develop flower buds. When the flower buds are plump, they can fully open at around 8 or 9 PM at night.
Cattleya schiedeana belongs to the Cattleya genus of the Cactaceae family. It is native to the Americas and is cultivated in various parts of China. It is a perennial plant that stays green all year round and thrives in dry environments, fearing constantly moist or waterlogged soil.
1. Light
Cattleya schiedeana prefers sunlight, being a flowering plant, but its ability to tolerate intense sun exposure is not very strong. In excessively hot summers, such as temperatures above 33 degrees Celsius, it needs to be shaded, receiving morning and evening sunlight during high temperatures. When the weather is cool, especially when temperatures drop below 30 degrees, it can be exposed to more sunlight.
How to judge whether the Cattleya schiedeana can bloom this year
2. Soil
Planting Cattleya schiedeana requires well-draining, loose soil, especially when grown on a balcony. It is essential to ensure good drainage of the soil, adding more coarse sand or coarse coconut shell (about 30%) to the soil to reduce the risk of root rot. Some decomposed leaf soil or compost soil can be added appropriately, and some decomposed manure can be buried at the bottom of the pot.
3. Fertilization
Caring for potted Cattleya schiedeana requires regular fertilization, especially during the spring and autumn growing seasons when the temperature is between 18 to 30 degrees Celsius. It can be supplemented with water-soluble fertilizer every one to two weeks, alternating between general-purpose water-soluble fertilizer and flowering fertilizer. If possible, supplementary cake fertilizer or decomposed sheep manure can be used regularly.
In autumn, once Cattleya schiedeana begins to form small flower buds, it should be supplemented with phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. It can be supplemented with monopotassium phosphate once a week or every half-month, making sure not to spray it on the flower buds.
4. Summer and Winter Care
One point to note is that the very wide leaves we often see are actually its leaf-like stems.
In excessively hot weather, it's important to enhance environmental ventilation and spray water on the leaves to cool them down, ensuring that the moisture on the leaves evaporates promptly.
In winter when temperatures are low, it is necessary to maintain temperatures above 7 degrees Celsius. When temperatures drop below 12 degrees, water should be controlled, and below 10 degrees, watering should be gradually stopped to help it survive the winter safely.
5. Watering
Before watering the potted Cattleya schiedeana, always check the moisture of the soil. Only when the soil is dry to a depth of about three centimeters should water be added. Avoid frequent watering. During the growing season, the soil can be kept dry and then watered thoroughly. In excessively hot summers, it is important to supplement water promptly to prevent the soil from drying out for an extended period.
6. Pests
Caring for potted Cattleya schiedeana also requires preventing scale insects. Some gardeners find many white spots on their Cattleya schiedeana leaves, which are actually signs of severe scale insect infestation, causing the plant to weaken.
If you want to remove scale insects, scrape off all the pests, clear the surface soil, and then spray insecticides such as thiazine or Guoguang Jibizhi, spraying every seven days.
If you want to prevent pest outbreaks, you can sprinkle small white medicine (dinotefuran) in the soil, doing so every half year.
The above is a detailed introduction on how to judge whether the Cattleya schiedeana can bloom this year and the noticeable signs in the spring and summer seasons. I hope you will like it!