AOS June 2010 Online Newsletter

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