Need help with watering cattleya seedlings

[estación seca]

I recommend beginners not start with tiny seedlings. They're not as tolerant of cultural mistakes. Find a flowering-sized plant that grows well in your temperature, humidity and light conditions. Once you can grow that well, get a slightly younger plant and grow that well... then an even younger plant... and work your way down to tiny plants.

[greyblackfish]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I recommend beginners not start with tiny seedlings. They're not as tolerant of cultural mistakes. Find a flowering-sized plant that grows well in your temperature, humidity and light conditions. Once you can grow that well, get a slightly younger plant and grow that well... then an even younger plant... and work your way down to tiny plants.

Well that is what I should have done.

My reasoning at the time was that I'll get a few inexpensive ones and make sure I won't kill it first. So definitely I won't be spending money on a community pot at this time.

[realoldbeachbum]

Great advice, es! Wish I had heard that earlier in my orchid journey.

I learned the hard way -- bought seedlings because they were cute and cheap - then realized they are more sensitive and deserved better care then I was able to provide! Oh well, win some - lose some.

The upside, although painful, I learned a lot in the process.

Thanks for the advice, I hope other newbies listen and heed.

[Shadeflower]

one of my first orchids I bought online inadvertently was a seedling. I didn't even realize at the time and it did ok.
You kind of have to start somewhere. Seedlings even taught me quite a bit on how to care for the adults cause if you can keep seedlings alive then an adult plant should be a breeze.
But it is true that you end up losing a lot of them. The one I showed just a few days ago is already in orchid heaven.

The main thing I have learnt is to get healthy seedlings. It makes all the difference between success and failure.
Some places sell amazing seedlings, others arrive like this:

Orchid Seedlings | Deflasking Orchids from Contaminated Flasks- with Updates - YouTube