BETTER GRO MIX AND BASKETS

[TRANCEBOY]

So in the last 2 months I have began to rescue all of my mother orchids who now seem to be doing a little better in fact some have started to spike. My question has to do with better gro special mix and the better gro wooden baskets from home depot.


I am using this mix for all my orchids and have replanted most of the orchids in these baskets.

I like how the baskets look and the mix seemed ideal for all since the bag says it can be used for all orchids.

I also am using the better gro phal mix for the philenopsis.

I am watering them once a week and while the phals are doing great the psutobulbs on the catts look a bit rinckled and small which means they are lacking water.

I read that catts use less water but so far i am finding they need more water then the phals..

I am trying to avoid any moss as I have seen what it can do to the roots.

Any suggestions on how i should water the catts. I am in miami and the temps reach about 86 degrees in winter with high hummidity. The catts are hanging on trees and so are the phals both with better gro baskets and better gro mix

[InspirChid1712]

Sounds like you are on the right track! Did the Cattleyas have decent white roots when you potted them in the baskets?? If they did not (which I suspect) the plants have no effective way of taking up enough water. I'd suggest giving them alot of light, and misting them heavily in the morning in place of watering. That seems to encourage root growth on my Cattleyas after a few weeks. The plants sense that there is water around, so they put out new roots to try and find it! You may also want to give them an initial drenching with Superthrive added to the water... it contains rooting hormones. (Don't use Superthrive more than a few times however! It will cause growth mutations!)

Just my thoughts....!

PS- If you can post a photo, the problem may be easier to diagnose... good luck! I'm jealous that you can grow them in Miami!

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[InspirChid1712]

Oh! Another thing! Don't bother using any fertilizer on them for now, since they probably can not absorb it currently. You have to get the roots going first!

[TRANCEBOY]

WOW .. YOU folks are good... Yes 2 of them had where pretty bad when we got them.. Their is a lady that sells them for abouot 15 dollars alreay grown and for the most part they look great but when removed from the potts they where a mess... I am trying to learn as a go so this was the newest problem. The roots for me whre a little harder to tell if they looked bad since they where white. The phals are so much easier to diagnose but in my opinion the catts have the most amazing flowers