Repotted Cattleyas: plant moves in pot

[Leafmite]

I plant my cattleyas on top of the medium (in my case, red lava rock) and let the roots grow down into the medium. I stake them well and don't move them for a few months until the roots hold the orchid firmly. I have the orchids on trays when indoors and the trays catch the excess water (I water with a watering can).
Tender root tips get damaged when the plant moves around in the medium. If the new 'eye' is buried, that can also be damaged. The 'eye' is the future new growth.
For stakes, I use whatever is handy around the home.

[jasonmom]

Thanks everyone. I'll try to find some of those stakes, but until them I repotted them and made the bark tighter. The bark does seam rather large to me.

[FSUOrchids]

Originally Posted by dounoharm

cattleyas must be 'hard potted', that is PACKED into their media...I find the miracle grow media is too fine and soft for most orchids....not enough air spaces and holds too much moisture....cattleyas particularly like a very large chunky HARD MEDIA, no soft stuff....buy good bark online if you only can get that stuff at lowes and home depot....cattleyas must be packed tight into their pot....ideally, when done right, you can pick up the plant by the psuedobulbs and it wont come out of the pot...you know its done right when you can do that....order some pot rhysome clips of varying sizes to hold small plants upright....good luck!

Agreed, I always make sure my cattleyas are secured so they don't move in their pots. In general you don't want orchids being able to move around too much in their pots, since it will make it difficult for them to grow roots.

[james mickelso]

Because of the physical properties of bark in regards to the size and shape of each kernel, it is difficult to "pack" the orchid and keep it stable for long. I suggest getting some floral tape or twine to wrap around the pot, top to bottom, and secure the bark and plant together with the pot. I do this with tall catts and laelias when I pot them in small shallow pots. Once I find my camera I can start posting pics again as examples.