Purpurata grows far south in Brazil and is one of the most cold tolerant of the Cattleyas. I know lots of folks grow outside year round in SoCal. You might not need to change your bark size if you increase your watering frequency. My temps get above 100 for months on end in summer and I hit them with water everyday. Watering in the evening really helps keep water at the roots during the most active metabolic period (night) for this group.
Now look at that beautiful 😻-leya! Always love a nice cat cameo. And that videography. Truly stunning! I agree with you. Mine is are a bit more thirsty than other Cattleyas. Especially during summer, they really dry out quickly and call out for me with their shrivelled pseudobulbs (same for dowiana and rex really). Really nice approach to compare the charts as you did here.
I grow this species in southern California and have several varieties. I think too much light has been part of your issue but wanted to chime in that if your plant was repotted at the wrong time or had a weak root system your plant may take another year to really get established. I would water it more in the summer months next year and I would not repot unless active root tips are emerging. I would not recommend you get a finer bark as it will compact more quickly and keep the roots from breathing. If it is really warm or drying out too fast you may put a clay saucer under it for the peak of summer. Also, if your night temperatures are really high that could affect things.
Happy I live in South Florida and have no issues what so ever growing this orchid! happy growing
Purpurata grows far south in Brazil and is one of the most cold tolerant of the Cattleyas. I know lots of folks grow outside year round in SoCal. You might not need to change your bark size if you increase your watering frequency. My temps get above 100 for months on end in summer and I hit them with water everyday. Watering in the evening really helps keep water at the roots during the most active metabolic period (night) for this group.
Now look at that beautiful 😻-leya! Always love a nice cat cameo. And that videography. Truly stunning!
I agree with you. Mine is are a bit more thirsty than other Cattleyas. Especially during summer, they really dry out quickly and call out for me with their shrivelled pseudobulbs (same for dowiana and rex really). Really nice approach to compare the charts as you did here.
So true, we have rainthe wrong time of the year for tropical plants which makes have to try harder 😬
Seeing as I don't have much luck with C. purpurata's going to take your advice & Increase watering drastically.
I grow this species in southern California and have several varieties. I think too much light has been part of your issue but wanted to chime in that if your plant was repotted at the wrong time or had a weak root system your plant may take another year to really get established. I would water it more in the summer months next year and I would not repot unless active root tips are emerging. I would not recommend you get a finer bark as it will compact more quickly and keep the roots from breathing. If it is really warm or drying out too fast you may put a clay saucer under it for the peak of summer. Also, if your night temperatures are really high that could affect things.
Hope you’ll get it to work! 🤞
very interesting video
Nice presentation!
Stephen's comment about watering in the evening sounds helpful, also have you thought about the amount of fertilisation and pH you use?
Thanks for the tip! Currently not fertilizing since I want to get it at optimal health before giving more nutrients that it may not absorb. 😁
What about a cal/ mag deficiency