Repotting Cattleya seedlings?

[kg5]

This lot have grown somewhat to the point that they need repotting. Still have 3 to 4 months of great growing weather.

Got a nice lot of 80mm squat pots.

Looking at a bag of treated small chip radiata pine bark.

Do I really need pearlite & charcoal in the mix.

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[PaphMadMan]

The perlite and charcoal give you more margin for error if you have a heavy hand with water, but I'm sure it is possible to do well with straight radiata bark. Your water and fertilizer practices always have to be adjusted to match your media choice and environment.

[kg5]

Thank you!

Maybe some perlite as I have some.

I would rather spend the $'s on the best bark. Some of the orchid mixes are already 1/2 decomposed and I can not see the value in it having all the bells and whistles including slow release fertilizers in an orchid potting mixture.

I am very surprised at how poor the premixed orchid potting mixes are.

It takes a lot of water to get the bark saturated eg 4 light waters 10mins apart twice a week has given great results.

Foliage fertilizer is my way.

I only need to be very careful with water for about 6 to 8 weeks in winter here. It is a real weakness because even watering twice a week in hotter times the orchids are very use to being dry overall.

My issue here is more to under water. lol

[estación seca]

The ones I see don't need repotting unless the medium is going bad. Cattleyas don't do well overpotted, and catts don't like repotting. Wait until they'll climb out of the pot with the next growth.

And only repot them when they're actively forming new roots from a new growth

[kg5]

Thank you estación seca.

I think this is what they are doing growing out of the top of the pot. Hope the images are helpful.

For some reason the way I have been posting images no longer works.

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It is only going to give me one image.

80% of my my plant are as...

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[estación seca]

I should have been more clear. Roots are growing out of the pots but this isn't what is important when deciding to repot. Cattleyas make new upright growths with leaves from the base of the current growth. When the upright growths have reached the edge of the pot, and the next upright growth would overhang the rim, the plant needs repotting. Your seedlings will be there in 1-3 more years with good care. After you observe new growths break, develop and mature, this will be clear to you.

Many people repot mature Cattleyas every 2-3 years, moving them to the smallest pots that will hold expected growth. The greatest cultivation danger is overwatering them, and smaller pots help prevent this by drying faster.

I saw this on the first set of photos. Enjoy your seedlings this summer as you watch them and learn their rhythms.

[kg5]

Good info! Thanks for being patient with me.

I will ignore the growers advice and stay with your logic. It does make a lot more sense to me.

There is a lot more room for root growth to take place and it was my 1st call to leave them to grow for this growing season and possibly the next.

It just can not be disputed that there is heaps of room for roots to grow. Getting some back up to let the orchid continue to grow is very welcome.

How close was I to making a huge mistake. But when you get the wrong info it is great to get it straightened out.

It is so nice to be apart of this forum.

[estación seca]

I didn't realize the grower suggested repotting. Does he or she believe the potting medium is old? I wouldn't repot those otherwise.

[kg5]

Yes the grower said that the plants are long over due to be repotted.

I purchased another 20 seedlings from the stock the nursery was in the process of repotting from 50mm to 80mm. They do not look as advanced as the images I have posted from my 1st purchase.

The grower was saying that if I did not re-pot I would stunt the growth of the orchids.

He showed me all the different stages of growth for 5 different pot sizes from 50mm or 2" to 300mm or 12".

Only the dendrobium's looked to have their roots growing out of their pots.

[estación seca]

If the medium needs replacing you need to do it. I would use the same pot size because they haven't outgrown those.