Help with repotting C. dowiana aurea

[fotofashion]

I was busy putting the plants into the GH when my C. dowiana aurea fell out of the pot. I'm scared to death I will kill the thing because I understand they are really touchy about winter treatment and repotting time. I had to do something so I put it into a deep clay orchid pot, added a few packing peanuts and used a medium consisting of bark, charcoal, perlite and LECA. I did not water it as I had rinsed it thoroughly before potting it up. Did I do good or bad? I have hung it way up at the peak of the GH and there it will stay until spring-unless someone tells me different. Thanks
Beverly A.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I'm not one to offer advice BC I just started growing C. dowiana this summer. To me, what you did sounds fine. If it were me I would not change things further within that plant until you see signs of new growth.

[Leafmite]

Good luck with it!
I had one of these, a seedling sent to me by mistake, but due to the eventual size and the short blooming, I did not keep it. I had to transplant mine around this time as it was in bark which kills everything in my cooler home. I put mine in a basket on top of a layer of lava rock, roots weighted down with a rock or two. It did not miss a beat. I think they are tougher than they are said to be.

[Brooke]

The dowiana does not want wet, cold roots during the winter. In your area, you should be able to give it some water around the edges of the pot. Several months of totally dry would be as hard on it as watering it weekly in my climate.

Put it in a place with a lot of light, give it some moisture when very sunny - think of the morning dew it would receive in nature.

Good luck - Brooke

[fotofashion]

Brooke, thanks for your comments. That is just about what I thought. I really want to be able to say I got this plant to rebloom. I had to repot the other (smaller) aurea because while we were putting my plants into the GH, DH accidentally knocked it to the ground, breaking the pot.
Thanks everyone for your interest and I hope you have success with your aureas.
Beverly A.

[Lingcod]

You did good. It might sulk for a little while but it should be just fine. Once they really start growing new roots in the spring you are business.