Catt not doing well - Orchid Board

JerseyGirlBecky · #1 07-01-2011, 11:57 AM

I have a large catt that I got in the fall. It was in bloom when I got it and the place I got it from told me to repot when it finished blooming. So, I repotted in the orchiata. I think it was too dry for it. Even tho I watered often. The p bulbs got wrinkled and not healthy looking. I took it out of the medium and soaked the orchiata really well, mixed in some of the Better grow for catts and potted it again. It did grow a new pbulb and nice roots coming off the new growth.. However the old p bulbs look terrible. They are so dry and wrinkled and yellowish. should I cut some off? How many old ones should I leave? I would hate to lose this one. Beautiful big, big flowers and very fragrant. Oh, and it is in a clay pot.

zxyqu · #2 07-01-2011, 12:06 PM

Well what did you change the media to originally. It sounds like the roots may have died in the new media, or it was underwatered as you suggest. Both would explain the shriveling of the pbs. Since it grew a new healthy growth, and new roots are coming out, it sounds like the plant will make it, but it may be "grumpy" about it's new home. But you should be fine.
Before you go pruning the old PBs, could you post a pic real quick of them? This can help us help you on removing old pbs if it's necessary. For now, sounds like it'll be fine.

JerseyGirlBecky · #3 07-01-2011, 12:16 PM

I repotted in the medium orchiata forst time around and am sure that is what caused the problem. Too dry. Maybe too big a change also? Wish I could post a picture but don't have camera. Will try to do it when my daughter comes next time. Thank You.

zxyqu · #4 07-01-2011, 12:19 PM

What was it in before your first repot? It the change was great, then yeah it probably was the media change coupled with possibly being to dry.
If you can take a pic, how many growths/pbs are there, how many are plump or moderately plump vs how many are shriveled? Do you see any shriveling of the leaves? How many really good roots do you see? Hopefully you've got 2 good pbs, and the new growth.

tucker85 · #5 07-01-2011, 12:54 PM

Cattleyas are survivors. Since you have new growth and new roots I wouldn't interupt the growth cycle. I would leave it like it is and just give it good culture and repot it next spring. Don't worry about old psuedobulbs being shriveled up. If you want to snip off any old psuedobulbs that are completely dried and brown you can but remember the plant pulls water and nutrients from the old growths into the new ones. The only important psuedobulb right now is the new one and that's where the plant is going to put all it's energy. My catts grow best when they get very dry between waterings. If you're worried that it's not getting enough moisture you can mist the new growth and the new roots in the morning. Even every day if you want to. Personally I don't think a medium can be too dry for catts. The trick is to give them moisture in the morning have everything dry quickly. Good luck.

JerseyGirlBecky · #6 07-01-2011, 04:24 PM

Thank you all. All of the old pb are deeply lined and the leaves are kind of bumby, dry. The new pbulb has lots of nice new roots. I am misting every day morning and night. I only water about every three days as they are outside and it is warm and not humid right now. I will leave it alone for now and not trim anything. I am not sure what it was in. Looked like some kind of mix. I got it from Waldens, I think that was the name. They make their own mix, I believe. Also, I have them facing east. They are not in direct sun any part of the day. It is shaded where they are. Are they getting enough light do you think?

tucker85 · #7 07-01-2011, 06:08 PM

It's not a good idea to mist orchids in the evening. They will stay wet and that can promote fungus. If you want to mist twice a day do it in the morning and then again in the early afternoon. Good luck.

silken · #8 07-01-2011, 07:20 PM

I would think while it is struggling, lower light would be better than lots of bright light. Curious if anyone else has a differing opinion. Good luck with yours. I'm sure it will be OK.

I have pretty much the same problem with one catt. I bought it in spike last fall from a fellow society member. It was potted in pure sphagnum in a plastic pot! Picture of health and it put out 2 new growths. She said repot when the new growths were several inches tall and I did because they also had good roots. It was doing 'OK' in the moss, but I have had a history of rotting roots, so I moved it to a mix of moss and bark into a clay pot as it is quite top heavy. Well, that has been it's downfall even tho one of the new growths threw out 2 buds with no sheath. They were not happy flowers as the plant was struggling so I cut them off to save the plant. It's been in the house getting misted ever since. Limp but alive leaves and very little light. Before it grew in a fairly bright greenhouse. Not sure what the outcome will be.

dounoharm · #9 07-01-2011, 09:07 PM

clay pots, like dry media, should be soaked before using....they will suck all the moisture from the media when you repot....