I need specific advice on Catt. walkeriana 'Pendentive'

[abax]

I have the above ordered from SVO and I plan to mount it on cork bark.
Should I mount "naked" or use something like coco fiber and just
spray it lightly once or twice a week. I know the general growing
conditions and my gh is very humid 80%-90% most of the time. I killed
a walker a long time ago with too much watering. Be free with advice...
this was one expensive division! After lots of talking to myself about
this purchase...yes...no...yes...no. Yes won.

 

[tomp]

Angela Congratulations on making The leap!
I mount mine naked placing the newest side of the plant against the mount so that it grows onto the mount. I do not put anything between the plant and mount. It sounds like you have plenty of humidity so shouldn’t need any moss or other on the roots. If need be a tiny bit of coco fiber between the rhizome and the wire or fishing line to protect. I’ve used cork and hardwood mounts. They like to crawl and can encircle a round (branchlike) mount. I either hang the mount or wedge in a clay pot with the mount inclined a bit. Good air movement is always a plus. Roots like to dry quickly after watering. Bright light.

Here is wishing you good roots and proud a dorsal !

 

[Ozpaph]

I use old stockings to tie them on. I often use a small pad of sphagnum under the new growth to protect it.

 

[big923cattleya]

I had a lot of luck with walkeriana during my 9 years in Florida. I grew about 30 clones from dark pink or lavender up through lighter colors, albas and semi-albas. I used cork mounts, tree fern mounts and plastic net pots.
They did the best on cork bark and in net pots. Tree fern mounts kind of underperformed when compared to other methods. Media in the net pots were 1/3 Leca, 1/3 perlite, and 1/3 charcoal. They loved it!
All plants grew on an east facing wall in my lanai, got about 3 hours of morning sun, just bright for the remainder of the day. I watered roughly every third day, a bit less during cooler weather. I shielded them from intense sun and used fans year round. They seemed to be the happiest from 60-82 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

[abax]

Thank you Big923 and friend tomp. I use fishing line for mounting on very rough cork. I have very large windows
on the east and south am considering growing the walker
in the house...maybe. My greenhouse perhaps has too
much humidity and the temps. are routinely 55F-70F
right now. I can always move a humidifier under the
plant..or mist every couple of days. Opinions please.

Lovely walkers Big923. It's been years since I've grown
Catts. and I'm going to have to be reacquainted. Throw
any advice my way.

 

[Happypaphy7]

Your humidity is way too high for Cattleyas in my opinion.
If you're going to enjoy one plant, how about having it on a sunny windowsill?
I suspect one or twice a week spraying isn't going to provide enough water for it during the active season.
It will be better to grow it in drier environment with more frequent good thorough watering for best results.

 

[big923cattleya]

Agreed. Misting only will be a problem.

 

[tomp]

Angela
here is a photo of a Pendentive alba mounted on a cork “branch” showing mounted View attachment 38414growth habit and happy roots.

View attachment 38413View attachment 38414View attachment 38413View attachment 38414

 

[Arne]

It is not easy to fail with walkeriana if the plants are mounted, given high light, and are allowed to dry out. Although I have most of my plants under lights during winter and outdoors during summer, my two walkeriana have always been grown in a windowsill in winter. They like it dry and bright.

 

[tomp]

Will try to add photos of mounted growth habit again again.

 

[abax]

Arne, gorgeous blooming. The color is superb. Thank you.

Thank you so much for the photos tomp. Must have been a
mighty effort and I appreciate it.

The division from SVO is quite large with five old growths and
two new ones coming along. I was planning on a much bigger
mount. I may have to rethink the size of the mount. Your
walker looks quite happy on a relatively small mount.

Are the photos of your plant recent? I want to see
the flowers!!!

 

[tomp]

Arne, gorgeous blooming. The color is superb. Thank you.

Thank you so much for the photos tomp. Must have been a
mighty effort and I appreciate it.

The division from SVO is quite large with five old growths and
two new ones coming along. I was planning on a much bigger
mount. I may have to rethink the size of the mount. Your
walker looks quite happy on a relatively small mount.

Are the photos of your plant recent? I want to see
the flowers!!!

Photo is current. (Yesterday). Will send when those buds open.

 

[abax]

YAAAAY tomp!!!! Correction: my division is three back
bulbs and two in active growth.
Thank you Happy for the advice and encouragement.
I feel all aflutter with excitement.