New Catt Acquisition (questions) - Orchid Board

ces797 · #1 10-02-2009, 06:11 PM

Hi Guys
Still new to Cattleya's and this is my second acquisition.
Was at a local nursery (that doesn't specialize in orchids) and saw this huge guy that looks really healthy. He may be Blc. Hsynying Catherine "Hakucho" but the lady at the nursery said the tag that had this name on it may have been from another orchid pot that someone moved. My question is about the pot size and medium. It's currently in a little 4" plastic pot and it's definitely overgrown it. There are 4 pseudobulbs in sheath and 4 new growths. The top of the pot is nearly all roots, I can only see a few bits of bark. None of the sheaths have any buds forming (from what I can tell) Should I leave this guy the way he is until Spring or re-pot it now? There are a couple of new roots with green tips. I wasn't sure what was worse in the situation, the overcrowding or repotting while in sheath

Thanks for your help!
Curtis

Junebug · #2 10-02-2009, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ces797

Hi Guys
Still new to Cattleya's and this is my second acquisition.
Was at a local nursery (that doesn't specialize in orchids) and saw this huge guy that looks really healthy. He may be Blc. Hsynying Catherine "Hakucho" but the lady at the nursery said the tag that had this name on it may have been from another orchid pot that someone moved. My question is about the pot size and medium. It's currently in a little 4" plastic pot and it's definitely overgrown it. There are 4 pseudobulbs in sheath and 4 new growths. The top of the pot is nearly all roots, I can only see a few bits of bark. None of the sheaths have any buds forming (from what I can tell) Should I leave this guy the way he is until Spring or re-pot it now? There are a couple of new roots with green tips. I wasn't sure what was worse in the situation, the overcrowding or repotting while in sheath

Thanks for your help!
Curtis

Wow! What a great big gorgeous plant. With all that new growth I'd be tempted to repot now so those growths can make fresh healthy roots.

What type of climate will your plant be exposed to over the next few months? Being from Central Florida, I could get away with an October repot, but that might not be the case with you.

ces797 · #3 10-02-2009, 06:51 PM

Thanks for the reply Junebug. I'm in Ohio so everything is indoors for me. Plant is in a south facing window on a pebble tray with ceiling fan on low all day.

PaphMadMan · #4 10-02-2009, 06:59 PM

You've got lots of new growths coming, so there will be new roots forming. Repot now.

ces797 · #5 10-08-2009, 10:09 PM

Sorry totally novice here.

I took the repot advice and moved it to a 7" clay pot and the medium I used is coconut husk chips, sponge rock, charcoal and granite chips. I got 6" plastic pot but the new growths were already over the side. I put the oldest PB's closest to the pot. But now I'm questioning whether I may have overpotted. What do you guys think?

johnblagg · #6 10-08-2009, 10:30 PM

I think its going to be happy.With all those new growths its going to be nice and full

Brenda Aarts · #7 10-08-2009, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnblagg

I think its going to be happy.With all those new growths its going to be nice and full

ditto.

ces797 · #8 10-09-2009, 12:11 AM

Oh good, glad to hear thanks guys
I didn't know if a previous overstuffed 4" pot to a 7" pot was too big of a jump or not. With my phals I pot according to just root size so it's weird with Catt's how you have to look at both roots and the rhizome growth