The AOS June 2010 Newsletter, distributed to members via email, is one of the most useful and informative newsletters I’ve seen. Several excellent articles on cattleya culture including a reprint of Ned Nash’s 5 part series published in AOS Magazine in 1983. Some useful tips I learned from these articles:

– Summer bloomers have green sheaths; winter/spring bloomers have dry brown sheaths. Don’t remove the brown sheaths!

-Leaf tip browning can be the result of low calcium. High temps may prevent the intake of calcium.

-Timing repotting is critical. Wait until new roots emerg from p-bulbs and are about 1″ long.

-“Size-place plants”. Keep seedlings together as they will need more frequent watering/attention.

-Yellow cattleyas with dowiana in background may be more difficult to bloom – wath repot timing.

-When repotting cattleyas some growers trim all roots to 4″ to prevent rot but provide anchorage.

-When repotting important to keep rhizome level on the surface of the media. May require ‘leaning” the division forward; don’t bury the backbulbs that will lead to rot. This will avoid “stair-stepping” new growths, complicating future repotting.

Submitted by Carol Wood