cattleya loddigesii in trouble

[Tango]

Well, even if I ruined the plant for nothing, it would be better. Now I'm watering it every day. It dries within the next hours.

[SouthPark]

Tango ...... I water my orchids pretty much every day too, in the morning.

It is certainly ok to water every day - as long as there is an understanding of what's roughly happening inside the pots ----- the media and the roots.

I know that for some orchids, if their roots start to grow into very wet media inside the pot, then there is a chance or good chance that those new roots will adapt to watery conditions - regardless of whether media is wet bark, wet scoria, etc. This is provided that growing temperatures and oxygen levels within the media remain at satisfactory levels.

I recently posted some details with pics showing some orchids that I care about 1000 percent .... ok 1 billion percent. And one of my favourite ones is growing in big pot of scoria. I water that every day - but I water it in my own way, just as other growers water in their own ways. Whatever method works and works for very long periods of time (eg. indefinitely) is very good ------ for both grower and the orchids.

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[Tango]

Thank you for your suggestions
One of my problems is that I treat a plant in a definite way, then I try to "improve" it, and then the plant is doomed... I should really stick to "the recipe".
Also, there are so many videos on the internet of people disturbing the roots of their Cattleyas and Dendrobiums... I just tremble at the idea of having to remove old bark from the Catts I potted in 2019. They'll go all to charcoal in 2021.
I really think it's better (for an overwaterer like me) to do as you say and pot in inorganic materials and never ever touch those roots again.

[Roberta]

When repotting, don't try to remove the last bit of bark (or other medium) that is stuck to roots. Leaving a little behind won't hurt anything, and preserving roots is most important. I just clean out what comes off easily, give a blast with the hose to wash out the middle on the larger ones, and let it go at that.

[SouthPark]

I agree with Roberta that not every piece of bark must come off. It's not going to be a problem.

Although, what I have found is ----- and probably a lot of other people found too ----- is if the interface between the bark and root is wet enough ..... so having water on the roots and bark for a while ----- so that the bark absorbs enough water to be wet enough, then bark pieces can come away from the sides of roots easily without ripping or tearing side portions/skin of roots.

That is - dry root and dry bark ....... trying to get the bark off under those dry conditions is not great.

[Tango]

Thanks!
In short: water well before repotting.

[Tango]

Hi! This looks like a second opportunity. I'm happy the plant is not giving up!

[isurus79]

Excellent! Get it potted up quickly!

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Tango

Hi! This looks like a second opportunity. I'm happy the plant is not giving up!

Nice one Tango. Looks like this one will make it. Those are excellent signs indeed.

Maintaining the satisfactory growing conditions from here on will ensure that this orchid will do really well.

[Roberta]

Definitely time to pot! One very important detail - those little roots are fragile, so don't touch, or press the medium too hard around them. Depending on what old roots you have, you may need to stake the plant so that it does not wobble... any motion can cause damage to those tender little root tips that would cause them to stop growing. So it must be firmly held in its pot - but not by pressing down where the little roots are.