Thank you, estación seca! When I repotted them from their 2" Hauserman pots into the clay, I just slid them out and filled in around them in the new pot without doing anything with the roots, and that is what I plan to do again. I don't remember if I put them in these pots in spring 2023 or 2024, but I remember I did do it when the roots were starting to show. I have started a page for the orchids now in my garden journal so I can keep better track.
I am glad you posted about treating the seedlings differently. I don't know why the standard advice is always "don't keep them too wet!" because this is very confusing to new people who are starting with small plants like I did, or growing in a centrally heated house and not a greenhouse or someplace muggy like Florida. I have the "How dry is too dry" thread bookmarked and several similar posts with advice from you and Kim and Roberta and Stephen which helped me very much. I probably would not have ventured into cattleyas if it were not for reading lots of advice first on Orchidboard.
In the beginning I wondered if I was keeping them too dry or too wet, but they seem to be making relatively steady progress since I bought them as 2" pots in October 22. Maybe not quite as fast as an expert. I have been buying only "starter" seedlings from Hausermann to practice on. I know it is more difficult but if I lose them (I have only lost one so far since 2022, a Blc Maikai) it is not such a financial loss. It is probably about time that these two, and the Lc Gold Digger I also got in fall 2022, start to think about blooming though. If you have any advice about that let me know! The Gold Digger made some sheaths this winter but has since dropped them.
I decided to put them in clay because in the summer they went outside, and the weight is helpful to keep them from getting tumbled around on the deck during storms. Also the clay actually helps me manage the moisture a little better because I can feel the pot to see if it is cool or maybe even still little damp. They are in half small reptile bark and half coco chunks, and in the winter they are in ceramic cachepots, which keeps them drying too quickly.
And thank you Roberta! Yes I have that list bookmarked too and I vaguely remembered a version with some paellas on it but couldn't find it.
I am trying to remember how to post a photo but I did upload a picture to my gallery.
