BLC. Greenwich 'Elmhurst' AM/AOS with droppy, bent over leaves

[SJF]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

I see a couple of very nice fat buds on the one pbulb which I think is the newest one in the group. That is what is important here. The media looks to be CHC (coc husk) and down inside under the root mass it probably stays wet while the top dries out. So be careful with your watering. Greenwich Elmhurst is very suseptable to root rot. I would repot this now as I saw some new roots growing. I would put it in Bark/perlite/charcoal for maximum drainage and drying. Just take it out of this pot and put it into another and fill with new mix. get as much of the old mix out as you can like I said before. This orchid is beautiful when in bloom. Pale greenish yellow with a fabulous scent. Nice big flowers. Don't over pot it. Just an extra inch around the edge of the new pot.

I have Orchiata and big perlite. I don't have any charcoal right now. I have been potting catts in straight Orchiate. Is that okay?

I also have Tindara's potting mix that I could use. That would probably keep it too moist. A couple of my BG baggy catts love it and the roots are coming out of the side slits on the clear pots. I will post pictures of that pot tomorrow. Need to get the kids to bed.

Thank you so much for your help.

[james mickelso]

Straight orchiata is fine. The perlite (sponge rock) is used to help keep the moisture more even in the mix especially at first. I have many orchids potted in straight bark.

[SJF]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

Straight orchiata is fine. The perlite (sponge rock) is used to help keep the moisture more even in the mix especially at first. I have many orchids potted in straight bark.

Thank you so much for all of your help. I truly appreciate it

What orchid books do you recommend?

Here are pictures of the Better Gro baggie orchid I mentioned last night. It had shriveled leaves, no visible leads and crummy roots. I planted it in this pot with the Tindara mix about 6 or 7 weeks ago. The roots have gone crazy. I keep pushing them back into the slits of the pot. It has two new growths now

[james mickelso]

The plant looks very happy and in good shape. Good growing.

[NYCorchidman]

That catt should have beautiful flowers! I wanted to get one, but knowing how cats do not flower well for me, I didn't buy one. well, at least, I haven't encountered one in bud. lol

Looking at your pictures, all the leaves that are bent seem to have done so because of mechanical damage of some sort. I say this because almost every single leaf has brown line or mark at the point where it bends.

I find cattleya leaves can be either straight up or horizontal. and some fall between these two depending on the crowdedness of the plant and where the light is coming from. I grow on the windowsill and sometimes leaves (the straight up types) will grow not so straight up but following the light direction.

I have one cattleya that has one of the older leaves bent like yours.

As James mentioned, I don't think "all" clones of this particular catt exhibit this characteristic is perfectly honest answer.

I guess you will find out yourself as to how the future growths will turn out.