Cattleya Potting Dilemma??

[ninreznorgirl2]

Ok, so I repotted this Catt back in October. I thought i had it pretty stable and what not. And then i had some difficulty with watering/soaking, and the containers i soak them in were kind of gradually lifting, what i thought i had well secured, out of the medium. so, now, one end is kind of lifting out, and the rest (the leaves, etc) are just kind of lying down a bit. there was new root growth, but it seems to have slowed (attributed to bad watering habits). So, my question is, do i leave it for now and be extra cautious, or move the medium around a bit and gently nestle those roots back into the pot and secure a bit better? (sorry images aren't the right rotation, idk how to get them to be right)

[estación seca]

It still has enough life to survive and grow.

It is extremely dessicated. The roots are barely in the medium. Bare-root Catts need watering every day in a humid greenhouse, and are nearly impossible to water enough inside a home.

Repotting Catts should only be done when new root nubs are first forming, perhaps 1-5 millimeters long. Repotting at other times may damage remaining roots and may severely set back the plant.

When you repot take care the growing point of the horizontal rhizome is at the surface of the medium, not buried and not up in the air. If the plant wobbles at all use as many wire rhizome clips as needed to anchor it firmly in the pot. It should not move when you water. Use the Search function in the top maroon menu to see what they look like. I don't soak freshly repotted plants in bark because of the floating and dislodgement issues. I would take it to the sink and water thoroughly. A Catt in large new bark inside a home might need watering every 1-3 days.

For now I would pot it properly. It's not the best time to do it, but your hand is forced. The medium is OK. Be sure to anchor it. Try to increase humidity around it by putting it into a humid area, or putting a large transparent bag over it.

[ninreznorgirl2]

Thank you for the reply. Its my first cattleya, so its all learning at this point, even with research! Would you say it would be ok to reuse this same medium, since it was brand new in october? I wondered if i needed an rhizome clip to help stabilize it.

I do have it on a heat mat, and have a humidity tray, which does come with a big dome for it, but i worried about it not getting enough air circulation being in there, even with vents on the top of it. I had it on there for about a week, but i went on vacation for 2 weeks, so i didn't want to leave it on there with only having it on there for a week with me monitoring it.

[estación seca]

I would use bark less than 6 months old for the same plant. It's the same as replacing a plant into the same pot and media after knocking it off the shelf. Bark is generally good for 2-3 years.

The heat mat is helpful but is also very drying. Is there a way you can have a small opening into the dome? Perhaps prop it up on one side so there is an air gap at the bottom?

[ninreznorgirl2]

there are two vent things at the top, but i didn't feel like the air was getting down in there enough. I'm sure i can rig something up to prop it enough to get some airflow through the bottom. I had tried something, but it was just what i had at the moment and hadn't thought real hard about what i could use to do that. I'll get it replanted tomorrow, with a rhizome clip (i see you can make them pretty easily, i have wire hangers!) i also saw on the board somewhere about using a bamboo skewer through top holes in the pot to secure it as well. i could also do that if the home made rhizome clip doesnt work out.

[Leafmite]

Good luck!

[ninreznorgirl2]

Well, its either going to thrive now, or I just officially sealed its fate. And now we wait. I did put a topper on the humidity and have the bottom propped open, and its up to 77% humidity. might have it come down a bit. I see the one leaf is starting to change to yellow too.

[estación seca]

I think it has a good chance. Under severe water stress Catts drop old leaves. It might take an extra year or two to flower after this.