John M
Orchid Addict
Cattleya skinneri 'Casa Luna' AM/AOS
This is a survivor of my greenhouse freeze in late March, 2008. The freeze happened just before this plant was about to explode into bloom. All the buds were killed of course and all the leaves were severly damaged, with most leaves simply turning black and dropping and the remaining ones turning black in patches. Some psuedobulbs turned black as well. I left the plant alone for a couple years, "wart's and all"; then, once it had new psuedobulbs at the end of each rhizome branch (it was a multi-branched plant when it froze), I cut off all the old, unsightly leaves. So now, 4 years later, it has 22 new psuedobulbs and a very open, airy habit because of losing all the psuedobulbs in the core to the freeze. It hasn't begun to make new branches on the rhizome yet. I wish it would and fill in all that empty space, making it a great big ball of colour. Must have patience! I've never repotted it since I got it about 15 or 16 years ago. It's in a 6" pot that you can't see any longer.
For the last few years, this plant has been a big disappointment because each year when it came into bloom, I just left it hanging in it's usual spot in the greenhouse. I spray everything every sunny day, and as soon as the flowers of this plants get wet, they rot. So, I was finding that the flowers lasted about 2 or 3 days. However, this year, when the buds began to open up, I religiously removed the plant from the greenhouse and put it into the barn, while I sprayed water in the greenhouse. Then, I brought it back and carefully misted it's roots only. Protecting the blooms from getting wet has allowed them to remain pristine and last for over 2 weeks so far. I expect to get about another 2 weeks or so before they fade. I'm very pleased with the show this year....finally!
This is a survivor of my greenhouse freeze in late March, 2008. The freeze happened just before this plant was about to explode into bloom. All the buds were killed of course and all the leaves were severly damaged, with most leaves simply turning black and dropping and the remaining ones turning black in patches. Some psuedobulbs turned black as well. I left the plant alone for a couple years, "wart's and all"; then, once it had new psuedobulbs at the end of each rhizome branch (it was a multi-branched plant when it froze), I cut off all the old, unsightly leaves. So now, 4 years later, it has 22 new psuedobulbs and a very open, airy habit because of losing all the psuedobulbs in the core to the freeze. It hasn't begun to make new branches on the rhizome yet. I wish it would and fill in all that empty space, making it a great big ball of colour. Must have patience! I've never repotted it since I got it about 15 or 16 years ago. It's in a 6" pot that you can't see any longer.
For the last few years, this plant has been a big disappointment because each year when it came into bloom, I just left it hanging in it's usual spot in the greenhouse. I spray everything every sunny day, and as soon as the flowers of this plants get wet, they rot. So, I was finding that the flowers lasted about 2 or 3 days. However, this year, when the buds began to open up, I religiously removed the plant from the greenhouse and put it into the barn, while I sprayed water in the greenhouse. Then, I brought it back and carefully misted it's roots only. Protecting the blooms from getting wet has allowed them to remain pristine and last for over 2 weeks so far. I expect to get about another 2 weeks or so before they fade. I'm very pleased with the show this year....finally!
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!!!! Jean
