What to do with a super pot bound cattleya

[natasha]

i would just jet / soaker function at the sprayer to get rid of the moss. then will gently tease the roots and throw the moss and bad roots... i agree with the rest, i would rather have one nice big specimen plant than many small ones!

[WhiteRabbit]

Yes - if you decide to not divide it - but a pot fitting the rhizome seems big for the root mass you can put a smaller pot overturned in the center of the pot you are using - or styro pnuts - just suggestions

[johnblagg]

Originally Posted by Autumn Child

John, why is it important to know if it is bifoliate or unifoliate? I am also currently trying to repot my catts (Rlc. Triumphal Coronation and c.walkeriana coerulea 'manhatan blue') that are both unifoliate. Would the species of catt matters? Please advice.

Bifoliate cattleyas should be in active root growth according to what I have read because repoting this type when they are not can result in them going into what is called a "sulk" which can result in months of lost growth or even a long slow decline and death.

Unifoiliate on the other hand are not as sensitive to being disturbed as are the Bifoliates....

Its always best if possible to wait for active root growth on either but much more important with the bifoliates types especialy speicies.

[Autumn Child]

Good news, Mine is both unifoliate, one of them is species (c. walkeriana coerulea) and was planning to transfer them to s/h eventually. Should c. walhkeriana be allowed to dry out before watering in s/h?

[johnblagg]

Originally Posted by Autumn Child

Good news, Mine is both unifoliate, one of them is species (c. walkeriana coerulea) and was planning to transfer them to s/h eventually. Should c. walhkeriana be allowed to dry out before watering in s/h?

LOL being a bifoliate is not bad it is simply a basic fact you should have in order to know your plants needs....


as for drying out before watering in S/h ....s/h is not supposed to dry out can you clarify that a little?
do you mean the top of the leca?Or do youi mean let the resavior go dry ....letting the s/h resavior go dry is not something I would do I empty mine once a week and flush them and refill.

[Autumn Child]

Yes, basically letting the reservoir go dry and ussually takes two or three days for the leca to dry up after the emptying the reservoir. In my case, i have a specialized container that act as reservoir, so it is easier to change or emptiying the reservoir. I heard a few catt species like c. walkeriana needs dry growth condition occasionally to mimic their natural habitat in the winter months.

[johnblagg]

Originally Posted by Autumn Child

Yes, basically letting the reservoir go dry and ussually takes two or three days for the leca to dry up after the emptying the reservoir. In my case, i have a specialized container that act as reservoir, so it is easier to change or emptiying the reservoir. I heard a few catt species like c. walkeriana needs dry growth condition occasionally to mimic their natural habitat in the winter months.

I dont know but I dont think your really doing s/h right if you let it actually go dry.You could be using leca in a regular pot in this instance and water as needed.

Ray is the true expert on S/h and we neeed his input here....