New and first cattleya..care and repot pls

[Keri_Mar]

Just got a blooming mini cattleya that is label "lc Angel love x c Skinner with a delicate flowers no fragrant (read somewhere that it has fragrance?). The orchid is in a 3" clear plastic and slits on the side and bottom drainage. The plastic pot is inside a very clean 3" clay pot. The plant/roots is very dry so much so when I pull it out the potting mix just seperated from the roots and the pot! So my question/ concern is should I just water it for now or give it a soaking? And wait for a few days to pot with new mixture? The orchid came with a mixture of bark, perlite and moss which are all dry also. It seems to me that the plant was in 2" square pot that was transfered to a 3" clear plastic for sale/ transport and hasn't time to adjust y My concern is should I repot it and it what medium and mix? Clay or clear plastic? Water or soak? Repot it now or wait few day to adjust to my environment. I have so many questions but expertize, comments greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[wintergirl]

I like your catt. I grow my catts in plastic pots that have holes all around. (I put holes in with a hot nail held by a vise, some people drill holes.) I use chunky bark. If it was mine I would repot in chunky bark now, then water tomorrow. I do not presoak my bark or wet my roots in most cases. Your catt will do fine even if it is dry now, as they have pseudobulbs to keep them hydrated.

[Leafmite]

Since the roots are so dry, before potting it into new medium, I would soak them for a while, maybe a few hours, to see what turns green. That will give you an idea if the roots are healthy.

[Keri_Mar]

Thanks wintergirl/Colette
I was lucky that I saw the catt bec I have been on the look out for a diff specie to have and it was even labelled at TJ!
Yes, the plastic would be a great choice as I would be able to monitor the roots especially it seems really dry to me right now though I don't know how it should look like. Although I read somewhere that watering is done when its dry(?) unlike oncidium plants to keep it moist. Is that right?


Thanks Leafmite
As its evening now, I will be soaking the roots first thing tomorrow that way I will know the health of the roots (that turns green is good but does it turn papery= bad?). I am familiar more or less with a phal and paph and oncidium roots but the catt will be something else and any info gladly appreciated.

Thanks wintergirl and leafmite again, will try to update what happens. Today I just very lightly sprayed some water on the plant and put it inside the claypot without any medium. The plant is very stable by itself as I will buy something suitable for catt tomorrow!

[wintergirl]

Originally Posted by Keri_Mar

Yes, the plastic would be a great choice as I would be able to monitor the roots especially it seems really dry to me right now though I don't know how it should look like. Although I read somewhere that watering is done when its dry(?) unlike oncidium plants to keep it moist. Is that right?

(sniped)

Catts like to dry out between watering. In my experience catts roots don't really green up as a phal or a vanda roots do. They tend to stay more white in my experience, but you can see plumpness and growth through the plastic pot. Just use nice chunky bark, on the larger size and pot it tight. You can stick flat/longer pieces of bark in the sides of the pot to get it tight. The larger bark will allow air to get in and keep the plant from becoming too wet. When you are done, grind up some dried egg shells and sprinkle some on top of the media.

[Keri_Mar]

Wintegirl:

Catts like to dry out between watering..you can see the plumpness and growth with plastic pot. Just use a chunky bark...dried eggshell on top of the medium.

It's wonderful sharing your experience wintergirl. I have been using a fine bark for potting with my other orchids but definitely will use a 'chunkier' bark/ mixture for cattleya. I am a waterer so I don't think a moss a good idea And will use eggshells as I remember my aunt used to do it too!

[MrHungx]

I've had this one before. The fragrance has a light sweetness that is not too overpowering.

I grow my catts in a sphag/bark mixture and I water when the moss feels dry. Since you're in San Francisco (where it's pretty humid), I would recommend a lower sphagnum to bark ratio. If you're going to keep it in the same pot, moss should dry out relatively quickly for a pot that size.