Laeliocattleya sapphire doll questions

[aliceinwl]

I bought a Laeliocattleya "sapphire doll" as a bare root 3 pseudobulb division over a year ago. I was told to set it up in a vanda basket with no substrate. It slowly proceeded to drop all its leaves. It didn't have much in the way of roots so I wasn't entirely surprised. I watered it every morning, but it just didn't seem to be staying wet long enough (I have it outdoors; no greenhouse) so I added coarse bark to the basket.

With the addition of the bark, it's been slowly growing roots and it pushed one new leaf. Would it do better with a more substantial substrate? Maybe small to medium bark? Or, should I just maintain the current status quo (it seems to be making steady positive progress albeit slowly)? In its current set-up it's probably completely dry within 2 hours of watering on most days.

[Roberta]

I think status quo... it still needs to dry out. I have also found that a little coarse bark in a basket goes a long way toward making a Catt happy that might be sulking bare root or mounted. In the cool weather it will probably grow slowly, but that's OK... It will tolerate winter much better on the dry side, and likely will pick up the pace once weather starts to warm and and days to lengthen

[aliceinwl]

Thanks! I'll be patient ;-)