Brassavola in sphagnum?

[Jmoney]

I have 3 nodosas in sphagnum in small clay pots. They seem happy enough, but the pots do dry out every few days. The sphagnum is tightly packed.

[Leafmite]

Years ago, the recommendation for Brassavola nodosa was to mount it. It does grow very well mounted (the nodosa that was not fragrant thrived mounted--still looks good when the current owner brings it to OS meetings). I grow my Brassavolas like my other Cattleyas, in lava rock, watered at the same time, and given extra Calcium to prevent Calcium deficiency.

[Dalachin]

I got mine in a 4 inch pot last spring, and potted in a spagnum and bark mix in a plastic 5 inch pot which it was in for the last year, and it did great— filled the pot and bloomed all spring. I hate the way the spagnum decays so I repotted it into bark in a clay pot with bark after blooming this spring. Too early to see how it will do, but I’m hoping this will be a longer term potting solution— I don’t want to repot it again for at least a couple years!

[Jmoney]

Originally Posted by Dalachin

I got mine in a 4 inch pot last spring, and potted in a spagnum and bark mix in a plastic 5 inch pot which it was in for the last year, and it did great— filled the pot and bloomed all spring. I hate the way the spagnum decays so I repotted it into bark in a clay pot with bark after blooming this spring. Too early to see how it will do, but I’m hoping this will be a longer term potting solution— I don’t want to repot it again for at least a couple years!

I find that high quality sphagnum packed tight tends to last a number of years. Frequently when repotting I end up keeping the rootball intact and "refreshing" the top couple inches that have accumulated algae and salts. I have been told that overwatering and overfertilizing will counteract the longevity of sphagnum. (many years ago when I packed loosely I found it turned into a soggy root-rotted mess after 4 months).

[MateoinLosAngeles]

Originally Posted by Jmoney

I find that high quality sphagnum packed tight tends to last a number of years. Frequently when repotting I end up keeping the rootball intact and "refreshing" the top couple inches that have accumulated algae and salts. I have been told that overwatering and overfertilizing will counteract the longevity of sphagnum. (many years ago when I packed loosely I found it turned into a soggy root-rotted mess after 4 months).

Yeah, despite being OP and curious about Sphagnum I still find bark, lava rock, perlite, etc. much more suitable to my needs. Loose sphagnum becomes a soggy mess for me tight sphagnum dries out too quickly even in plastic pots. For plants that like to stay constantly moist using a plastic pot with bark and lots of perlite works really well for me and ironically stays moist longer than tight sphagnum, who would've thought?

The catts in baskets dry a bit too quickly for my liking but the growth is impressive and potting Cattleyas seems like a lost cause for me anyway, they are determined to grow out of the pots at all costs, and eventually it becomes like growing a mounted plant anyway. When in baskets they at least have a portion of the roots inside the medium which keeps them hydrated for a little longer. The roots also tend to weave back into the medium and at least the patterns are an entertaining sight.