Which media do you use for Catasetum?

[MateoinLosAngeles]

Many will be repotting their Catasetinae soon, including myself, this year's purchases from SVO have really outgrown their 3 inch pots!

Now, I wonder what is the preferred media that people with experience with Catasetinae are using and why?

I have seen the classic sphagnum moss and sphagnum moss with packing peanuts at the bottom, as well as folks adding charcoal, slow release fertilizer mixed with the sphagnum, and the PET method, which I personally learned about from Stephen on OB, which is a layer of inorganic, a layer of bark and a top layer of sphagnum (Although I believe he's evolved this?).

I personally want to avoid using sphagnum for several reasons, it's just not a medium that works well for me, the slow release fertilizer has also been problematic burning some roots when mixing 1tbsp into a 4 inch pot. Yet, my preferred bark and perlite mix that I use for most orchids hasn't yielded the results I wanted for my adult Catasetinae.

I have been using fern fiber for my polychilos phals in plastic pots with drainage holes but no ventilation and it's been just great for me, sometimes I add some grodan cubes or top with bark or a bit of sphagnum, but tightly packed fern fiber alone has been fantastic. Now I'm considering using it for Catasetinae this coming season, perhaps adding some lava rock at the bottom for weight.

What about everyone else? Do you have a favorite "recipe" to keep these thirsty/hungry plants happy in your environment? Would love to hear!

[Keysguy]

I use a homemade mix of fine bark, sphagnum, charcoal and sponge rock with three layers (bottom, middle & top) of time release.

[Jmoney]

straight moss (potted tight). a peanut or two if I'm moving plants to larger pots (i.e. the 3" SVO seedlings into 4" pots). for plants with extensive roots, no peanuts. no slow release. just full strength fertilizer every watering during growing season, which may be 2x a week or more since I am still partial to clay pots.

[Dalachin]

I’m trying Stephen’s PET method in takeout soup containers with leca on the bottom, large bark in the middle third, and spagnum on top, with layered time release fertilizer. It’s my first year with Catasetinae, we’ll see how it goes!

[Roberta]

I use straight sphagnum for all but the largest plants, I have trouble keeping bark wet enough during the growing season unless there is a lot of it. The "beasts" get small bark in their large pots.

[DeaC]

Originally Posted by MateoinLosAngeles

Many will be repotting their Catasetinae soon, including myself, this year's purchases from SVO have really outgrown their 3 inch pots!

Now, I wonder what is the preferred media that people with experience with Catasetinae are using and why?

I have seen the classic sphagnum moss and sphagnum moss with packing peanuts at the bottom, as well as folks adding charcoal, slow release fertilizer mixed with the sphagnum, and the PET method from the great Stephen which is a layer of inorganic, a layer of bark and a top layer of sphagnum (Although I believe he's evolved this?).

I personally want to avoid using sphagnum for several reasons, it's just not a medium that works well for me, the slow release fertilizer has also been problematic burning some roots when mixing 1tbsp into a 4 inch pot. Yet, my preferred bark and perlite mix that I use for most orchids hasn't yielded the results I wanted for my adult Catasetinae.

I have been using fern fiber for my polychilos phals in plastic pots with drainage holes but no ventilation and it's been just great for me, sometimes I add some grodan cubes or top with bark or a bit of sphagnum, but tightly packed fern fiber alone has been fantastic. Now I'm considering using it for Catasetinae this coming season, perhaps adding some lava rock at the bottom for weight.

What about everyone else? Do you have a favorite "recipe" to keep these thirsty/hungry plants happy in your environment? Would love to hear!

I'm learning(forever it seems) about my Catasetums so no advice from me about them. But I think 1tbsp. fert. in a 4'' pot is excessive which could be why roots burn.

[isurus79]

This group is incredibly adaptable with regards to media types, so long as they get the adequate amount of moisture and fertilizer during the growing season.

Originally Posted by MateoinLosAngeles

I have seen the classic sphagnum moss and sphagnum moss with packing peanuts at the bottom, as well as folks adding charcoal, slow release fertilizer mixed with the sphagnum, and the PET method from the great Stephen which is a layer of inorganic, a layer of bark and a top layer of sphagnum (Although I believe he's evolved this?).

First, I want to say that I did not develop the PET method! I actually heard about it here on OB from a Venezuelan grower living in Europe (his name here was Ramon), like 10 or more years ago. I think I was the first English speaker to show the technique on YouTube, but I can't claim credit for developing it!

I've actually moved away from the three layer technique since since spag is really expensive! I only use two layers now, with inorganic on the bottom and a cheap cypress mulch mix for the organic layer. Coconut coir is a good alternative to cypress mulch, which tends to only be available in the southern US. I made a video a few years ago showing how I do it with cypress mulch: https://youtu.be/yxHSGIjhea0?si=F6R0VGNpUMYS0JxF

[MateoinLosAngeles]

Originally Posted by isurus79

First, I want to say that I did not develop the PET method! I actually heard about it here on OB from a Venezuelan grower living in Europe (his name here was Ramon), like 10 or more years ago. I think I was the first English speaker to show the technique on YouTube, but I can't claim credit for developing it!

Made a little edit to my post!

Originally Posted by MateoinLosAngeles

the PET method, which I personally learned about from Stephen on OB

I like the idea of the mulch! A grower recommended coco husk chips via private message. I didn't think of coco coir because what I have is the "houseplant soil substitute" kinda type, so it is very fine and dense, but I'll check out your video. Maybe density wouldn't be a problem., especially in my climate.

I love the idea of saving some damn money!!!!

Have you ever encountered issues with a water reservoir? I stopped using S/H because of issues with water molds in the summer months, but having organic media should really help with that. The cypress mulch might be much better for it since it will invite and host beneficial mycorrhizae.

---------- Post added at 11:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:09 AM ----------

Originally Posted by DeaC

I'm learning(forever it seems) about my Catasetums so no advice from me about them. But I think 1tbsp. fert. in a 4'' pot is excessive which could be why roots burn.

My thoughts exactly, yet I've seen other growers recommend that ratio for catasetum!!! It definitely didn't work for me; I would do less than a teaspoon moving forward.

---------- Post added at 11:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:13 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Jmoney

I am still partial to clay pots.

I can't keep up with watering in clay pots but I surely appreciate their weight... Many times, I just place my plastic pots in a clay one that is an inch bigger or so, although lately, I've been using square aircone pots, which are really helpful in preventing tipovers.

---------- Post added at 11:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:15 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Dalachin

I’m trying Stephen’s PET method in takeout soup containers with leca on the bottom, large bark in the middle third, and spagnum on top, with layered time release fertilizer. It’s my first year with Catasetinae, we’ll see how it goes!

Those are exactly what I would use, but I will probably try to find either square containers or have a dish tray as an external reservoir for my square aircone pots; too many issues with fat catasetum tipping over, especially by the end of the season never know how big they will get!

[DirtyCoconuts]

for a take from left feild- i grow in Florida, outside- i use only inorganic media in large clay pots that sit in very large saucers holding water up to 2"- my medium is #4 perlite, charcoal, leca and lava rock.

I do leave all fallen organic material on them and let it do its thing and i fertilize very lightly with every water ing I do, which is not very often as i let the rain do most of the work

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by MateoinLosAngeles

Have you ever encountered issues with a water reservoir? I stopped using S/H because of issues with water molds in the summer months, but having organic media should really help with that. The cypress mulch might be much better for it since it will invite and host beneficial mycorrhizae.

No issues that I've noticed! You'll get a thick layer of algae that builds up (water + sun + nutrients = algae), but the plants don't care.