Cattleya shriveling pbulbs and leaves.

[Tim P.]

Good evening everyone! Usually I am good with rescuing orchids, but this one must be the white stag. This particular plant has a lot of meaning to me since I had it during college. When I got it, it had no roots. I repotted and it sat still for months. Then it started putting out two growths, but has since sat still since October. I now notice there is a lot of shriveled pbulbs and some moderate shriveling on the leaves. I have been watering once a week which may be part of the problem? It is in a 3.5 inch pot. It is a mini.

[silken]

I'm no expert, but to me it looks over-potted and then with moss in there as well, I would suspect root rot. Do you know how the roots are? cats like air to the roots and rapid drying. I let mine get dry or pretty close before watering again.

I would suggest checking the roots. Then you will know what's happening.

[Jungeoma]

I have the same problem and I would love to have some answers. I find catts to be my most difficult orchid to keep happy. I have lost several of my favorites. Some roots were bone dry and shrivveld up and on other plants root all rotten. I guess I have not found that happy medium, pun intented, yet.

[wintergirl]

Catts like to be tight in the pot. I use big fir bark with styrofoam pieces in the bottom for drainage. My plastic pots have lots of air holes too. Working for me so far..

[Leafmite]

The easiest way to grow Cattleyas is in plastic basket pots with either LECA or red lava rock as the medium (I add some eggshell to this for a constant source of Calcium). It is nearly impossible to rot the roots and you can easily see when the Cattleya needs more water.

[Tim P.]

I only put in a few pieces of sphag to provide a little more moisture as the bark was very large. I personally was wondering if I was under watering as I go a week in between which works for my large catts, and this one is much smaller.

[silken]

I agree that they like to be in a small pot that fits their roots. I prefer clear pots with lots of drainage and air holes. I use medium bark. In nature their roots are attached to trees and dry quickly. They also photosynthesize, so the clear pots give some of them some light. I usually get awesome roots on Catts. I like to use some seaweed occasionally which promotes root growth also. And you can put a bamboo skewer into the pot near the centre. Pull it out and check how wet or dry it is to determine if it needs watering. This has saved many of my orchids from root rot.

[NYCorchidman]

If those pictures are recent, I think I see wet green roots on top of the potting mix. I think the roots are good and given your description, all sounds good.
If the bark is really really large grade, then underwatering can be an issue, but the thing is this.
I have not watered cattleyas in large grade bark for almost one month before. and one other catt suffered occasionaly underwatering.
They both developed wrinkles on their pb due to underwatering but the leaves were as hard as iron.
It really takes a long time for cattleyas to have a soft leaf.
Actually I have had only two cattleyas (both happened to be bifoliate), and they got once a week watering. One day their leaves got soft and wrinkly.
Well, it turned out they got hit by fungal disease that blocked the internal water vessel system, hence they developed this severe dehydrated appearance.
So I say check the roots or try and cut of the oldest pb and see what color the cut section is.
You might be surprised.

[jocierk]

I have both Minis and full-size Catts and my Minis always dry out faster. I give them a quick mid week drink to hold them over to the weekend when I have more time to water. My pots do all have holes in the side for better air flow though. Make sure you don't rot the roots but those small pots dry out quick so I wouldn't be surprised if they would like a little more water. I like to stick a bamboo skewer down in each pot and I just pull that out and check it to know if the pot needs water.