What exactly is this type of medium on my cattleya?

[SakuraDrops]

Hello all,
I recently purchased this at an orchid workshop. I haven't owned any cattleyas in this type of medium before. What is this called and is there any specific details I should know about watering, fertilizing, etc? I also would like to know why the previous owner would choose this medium over the others (pros and cons), or if it is just a matter of preference.

Photos: Mystery Medium - Album on Imgur


Thank you.

[Ray]

Looks like charcoal, possibly with rocks (although it could just be different shades of charcoal).

Some folks like it because it is very slow to decompose, hence won't lead to root suffocation.

[SakuraDrops]

Originally Posted by Ray

Looks like charcoal, possibly with rocks (although it could just be different shades of charcoal).

Some folks like it because it is very slow to decompose, hence won't lead to root suffocation.

Thank you!! (-:

[Louis_W]

Kinda looks like lava rock to me

[ArronOB]

Magnifying it, it looks like 100% lava rock to me too.
Easy to test. Is it hard and heavy - If so then lava rock. Is it soft and light - then charcoal

Growers would choose lava rock because it doesn’t break down and thus is low maintenance. It may accumulate salts/toxins and thus need to be flushed, but I’ve never seen hard evidence of that.

The downside is that it doesn’t retain much water so requires more frequent watering. That Cattleya looks dehydrated so I guess it didnt retain sufficient water for the previous growers watering regime..

[SakuraDrops]

Originally Posted by ArronOB

Magnifying it, it looks like 100% lava rock to me too.
Easy to test. Is it hard and heavy - If so then lava rock. Is it soft and light - then charcoal

Growers would choose lava rock because it doesn’t break down and thus is low maintenance. It may accumulate salts/toxins and thus need to be flushed, but I’ve never seen hard evidence of that.

The downside is that it doesn’t retain much water so requires more frequent watering. That Cattleya looks dehydrated so I guess it didnt retain sufficient water for the previous growers watering regime..

Thank you! Do you mind explaining to me how you can tell the Cattleya looks dehydrated? I don't have much experience, and always thought it was only dehydrated if the leaves looked shrivelled. Or is shrivelling a sign that its way too dry? D:

Edit: I mean to say leathery leaves. Not shrivelled sorry.

[Keysguy]

The leaves are a little bit shriveled but it's more noticeable in the pseudobulbs. It looks to be more in the older ones and you have some new growths coming so put the water to it this summer and I think you'll be fine.

[SakuraDrops]

Originally Posted by Keysguy

The leaves are a little bit shriveled but it's more noticeable in the pseudobulbs. It looks to be more in the older ones and you have some new growths coming so put the water to it this summer and I think you'll be fine.

Okay I can see the shrivelling now that you point it out. Will increase the water..Thanks much!