Quote:
Originally Posted by smweaver
Mauro, I realize that I'm adding my feedback a bit late, but I wanted to tell you how nice that flower is. And even if there are "better" C. loddigesiis available today, I'm afraid that I probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between an average one and a good one. I have a plant of this species that I just got this summer and it's currently flowering. Very nice scent it has also. Could you tell me whether or not it needs to experience a rest after it flowers before it can be repotted? The potting material seems to be deteriorating and I would like to repot my plant; however, I don't want to do something that's going to make it unhappy if I repot it at the wrong time.
Steve
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Steve, your concern is right, cause these bifoliate Cattleyas really did not forgive when they are not repotted at the right time. You should not move it to a new pot/medium until you notice the new roots breaking out. I would say to repot only if the medium is completely rot serving for nothing and the plant can easily be pulled off the pot without any root damages. If this is the condition now, then the repotting procedure must be done with all due care to prevent any root injury. These Cats have no storage organs and strongly depend on the roots to survive. Repotting at the wrong time will make them become seedlings again.
If you decide to wait, you maybe would like to check the medium pH up to see whether it is too acidic due to the decaying process, or not. If it is too acidic (=or<5.3) a trick is to add a bit of limestone on top to elevate the pH a little and provide less unbalanced environment around the roots. With this you try to prevent unbalanced nutrient absorption, which can negatively impact the plant metabolic system.