Repotting rupicolous laelias

[NatalieS]

So, this was a first for me and a bit nerve-wracking since I have read these HATE being repotted. I hope I've done a good job. I'm interested to know how others here on the board pot their 'rupis'.

The 'rupi' in question is Laelia lucasiana. It arrived with lots of moss growing on the top of the media. Very pretty, but I was completely unable to tell how wet/dry it was. Also, when I would give it a good watering I could smell that faintly sweet, pungent, rotting media smell. Added to that, a new growth that it's been working on was growing right up against the side of the pot. That was the clincher.

I have read recommendations for potting these in gravel, aquarium gravel, sand, and even cat litter. In the end what I went for was a mix of aquarium gravel and CHC of roughly the same size. Anyone else try this combination?

It was a good thing I removed all the moss as well. It had grown quite thick and, too my sadness, I noticed several blackened growths that had been smothered and rotted. The only reason the new one survived was because it came up in a gap between the side of the pot and the media.

Anyway, I've attached a few pics. All comments and suggestions welcome - as I said, I'm eager to hear how other people pot their rupicolous laelias.