Repotting my bifoliate catt

[rbarata]

Yes, my plan is to use large bark+leka. I could put a layer of leka at the bottom to follow Kim's advice.
Would it be ok?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Yes, my plan is to use large bark+leka. I could put a layer of leka at the bottom to follow Kim's advice.
Would it be ok?

Sure. No harm. But if the bark does not fall out of the bottom of the basket, why bother? Just make sure that the plant is held firmly in place - if it wobbles, it is easy to tie to the corners of the basket to hold it still, so that the new roots don't get damaged until they grasp firmly. For most Catts, the less media the better, the roots love to ramble freely.

[Leafmite]

I use large chunks of red lava rock for all my Cattleyas and put them in large, over-sized basket pots so I don't need to worry about potting them up again for the next five years. I usually stake the orchid well so that it will not move. Only the roots go under medium, everything else is above. After a growing season, I usually do not need to worry about the rock moving as the roots tend to hold it quite tightly.

---------- Post added at 10:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:41 PM ----------

Leca is good as long as it won't move around the roots and your environment isn't too cool. I tried Leca as a medium and, except for the Phrag, I went back to Lava rock.
If your climate is warm enough or you can water every day, you do not even need medium in a basket. The medium helps to keep the air around the roots humid.
Different mediums work for different people. Good luck with whatever you decide!

---------- Post added at 11:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:56 PM ----------

With the bifoliate Cattleyas, I have never had a problem potting hybrids. The species, though....

[bil]

I would fill the basket with coarse bark that has been sieved to remove the small stuff. It will need more watering, but it will be impossible to overwater.

That might also mean the basket will last longer.

Using coarse bark (2") you simply can't overpot.

[Fernando]

You can use the fibre of Livistona chinensis to prevent little pieces of bark falling through. This palm has fibres that last very long, don't try Washingtonia nor Canary Date Palm (Phoenix), cause these last only half a year.
For me this basket is far to big (deep), but that may be my preference for under-potting anyway. These Catt-Emerald-Queen-lookalikes like to dry out in between as well as frequent watering, so a basket is the right way of potting them.
Have luck with your plant!

[rbarata]

Thank you for all the sugestions.
The easiest for me is coarse bark. It will be difficult to find a 2" sieve so I'll have to choose the larger pieces from the bag. Corase bark here is, average, 1 to 1.5", with larger pieces mixed.
Now I just need to wait for the roots. If they take long to grow I'l repot it sooner than recommended (the pot where it's in is getting full of moss due to humidity retention).

[Roberta]

1-1.5" (2-3 cm) bark should be perfect. That's the largest I can get, and it works well.

[bil]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Thank you for all the sugestions.
The easiest for me is coarse bark. It will be difficult to find a 2" sieve so I'll have to choose the larger pieces from the bag. Corase bark here is, average, 1 to 1.5", with larger pieces mixed.
Now I just need to wait for the roots. If they take long to grow I'l repot it sooner than recommended (the pot where it's in is getting full of moss due to humidity retention).

The point about the sieving is to remove the fine stuff. You don't need a 2" sieve. I just use a bit of weldmesh.

you want to ensure that there are no fine pieces blocking the flow or air.

[rbarata]

you want to ensure that there are no fine pieces blocking the flow or air.

I would add that fine pieces might be the starting point for premature degradation of the medium.

[Leafmite]

If you are going to use bark, buy a good grade so that it won't decompose at an inconvenient time. I just read an AOS article (1981) about the different medium and I found my question answered about why I was so dissatisfied with bark when everyone recommended it. I guess much of the bark sold is not of the quality that once was available. Here is the article on different mediums:

Potting Media Reviewed: Orchid Potting Media Reviewed