Why does the Cattleya Orchid thrive but not bloom
The editor explains the introduction of the succulent plant Cattleya Orchid, why it thrives but does not bloom. Please refer to the detailed introduction below.
The Cattleya Orchid, a perennial evergreen plant with变态 leaf-like branches similar to the Epiphyllum, often exhibits lush growth without blooming. Normally, the blooming period of the Cattleya Orchid is around May to June each year. If no flower buds appear during the blooming season, and if your Cattleya Orchid has been cultivated for a few years, it might be time to consider that there may be issues with the daily care. In my view, the following three aspects might be the key reasons affecting blooming. Flower growers can take corresponding measures.
1. The placement location is excessively shady
Although the Cattleya Orchid is not a sun-loving flower, it is best to have full sunlight in spring and autumn. Full sunlight in spring helps new branches develop strongly, laying the foundation for flower bud differentiation. After the beginning of autumn, sufficient sunlight creates conditions for the plant to successfully differentiate flower buds, making it possible to bloom in late spring and early summer of the following year. Since the Cattleya Orchid does not tolerate intense sunlight, shading is required in summer. To ensure the Cattleya Orchid blooms as expected, the placement location should not be excessively shady, and it should receive sunlight in spring and autumn, which is a prerequisite for blooming.
2. Excessive watering and fertilizing
The habits of the Cattleya Orchid include one liking, one fear, and one requirement. The liking is for a sunny and well-ventilated growing environment. However, proper shading is necessary in the hot summer and dry windy spring. The fear is of rain, especially the first rain after a long drought, which can cause the leaf-like branches to rot. The requirement is for the soil to be fertile, loose, and well-drained. Since the Cattleya Orchid, like the Epiphyllum and the蟹爪兰, is a succulent plant storing a large amount of water and nutrients, it also has a significant characteristic of strong drought resistance. The Cattleya Orchid does not have a distinct dormancy period and grows throughout the year, although the growth rate and the amount of new branches produced are slower and fewer compared to the vigorous growing period in spring. Excessive water and fertilizer are not suitable for mature plants after the beginning of autumn. The period after the beginning of autumn is a crucial time for the Cattleya Orchid to differentiate flower buds. During this time, it should receive plenty of sunlight and moderate watering and fertilizing, with watering following the principle of "dry-wet." Otherwise, uncontrolled and excessive water and fertilizer will lead to the continuous growth of new branches, causing part of the accumulated nutrients to be diverted, making flower bud differentiation difficult and severely affecting the blooming in the second year. During the peak growing season, the Cattleya Orchid should be fertilized with organic liquid fertilizer every 20 to 30 days. Excessive water and fertilizer in autumn are not advisable, as they can affect the blooming of the Cattleya Orchid.
3. Over-vigorous growth of leaf-like变态 branches without pruning for a long time
When the Cattleya Orchid's vegetative growth is too vigorous, it will continuously produce new branches. In addition to retaining the necessary branches for propagation or grafting, the focus for mature plants is to encourage blooming and suppress vegetative growth. The Cattleya Orchid is usually grown in pots. Apart from selecting strong branches from different positions, the rest should be continuously removed, eliminating them as they appear.
Incidentally, I have two points to share with readers:
1. New branches that sprout in the current year generally do not bloom. They need to be cultivated for 1 to 2 years before they are capable of blooming. The Cattleya Orchid does not bloom in the same year it sprouts; instead, it differentiates flower buds after autumn (it might also differentiate in the second autumn), and blooms from May to June of the second year. Moreover, whether a leaf-like branch that has the potential to bloom will actually bloom is influenced by multiple factors, meaning that cultivation and management must be up to par.
2. Leaf-like branches that have bloomed once or twice enter a senescence stage, becoming semi-woody and turning grayish-white, and they generally will not bloom again. To ensure flowers every year, it is necessary to plan for the annual renewal of old branches.
The above introduction on why the Cattleya Orchid thrives but does not bloom is hoped to be of help to you. Don't forget to check out more gardening experience and common knowledge!