Help with cattleya

[princesjess13]

Hello everyone,
I just bought this cattleya today and will repot when it's done blooming. It's a jungle in there! I have no idea what's newer and what's old. I'm guess the new leaves are new pseudobulbs but they look crammed and too low for me and I don't see what everything isn't connected. Please help! Thank you

[WhiteRabbit]

The somewhat shriveled pbulbs are older than the smooth ones. The one now blooming is newer, as is the one with a sheath (? - I can't tell if the sheath is old or not, but the pbulb looks smooth). They don't just grow in a straight line.

If I were repotting this, I think I would leave room to grow from where the blooming pbulb is, as well as the one with the sheath.

[estación seca]

The smallest growths are the oldest. The plant may have more flowers coming in a sheath. Don't repot now, or you might lose flowers. Even if the medium is old, it's very large and chunky, and the roots are getting plenty of air. Wait to repot until it is making new roots in profusion from the base.

When you do repot pull it out of the old pot, shake off as much of the old bark as you can easily, and drop it into a new container with fresh bark. Use a container about 2-3" / 5-6cm wider in diameter.

[bil]

Repot into coarse bark that has been sieved to remove fines. I'd use a bowl/pot that was quite a bit bigger to allow for a few years' undisturbed growth. I would go for 8"-12" diam if you can find the space. With coarse bark depth doesn't matter, but I prefer5-6"

The time to repot is when a new pBulb is starting to put out roots. Try not to break the tips, they are very fragile.

[princesjess13]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

The somewhat shriveled pbulbs are older than the smooth ones. The one now blooming is newer, as is the one with a sheath (? - I can't tell if the sheath is old or not, but the pbulb looks smooth). They don't just grow in a straight line.

If I were repotting this, I think I would leave room to grow from where the blooming pbulb is, as well as the one with the sheath.

Thank you! It is actually a new sheath on the other which I see the flower spike coming out this morning!

---------- Post added at 08:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:36 AM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

The smallest growths are the oldest. The plant may have more flowers coming in a sheath. Don't repot now, or you might lose flowers. Even if the medium is old, it's very large and chunky, and the roots are getting plenty of air. Wait to repot until it is making new roots in profusion from the base.

When you do repot pull it out of the old pot, shake off as much of the old bark as you can easily, and drop it into a new container with fresh bark. Use a container about 2-3" / 5-6cm wider in diameter.

Should I try and take out all of the old media once this has finished blooming? I think this is a 4 inch square pot and I am wondering if I can go up to a 5 1/2 inch round one? This should give it plenty of 2 year growing room, I am just concerned it might not be snug enough. Thank you!!

---------- Post added at 08:42 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:38 AM ----------

Originally Posted by bil

Repot into coarse bark that has been sieved to remove fines. I'd use a bowl/pot that was quite a bit bigger to allow for a few years' undisturbed growth. I would go for 8"-12" diam if you can find the space. With coarse bark depth doesn't matter, but I prefer5-6"

The time to repot is when a new pBulb is starting to put out roots. Try not to break the tips, they are very fragile.

Thank you! Do they like to be real snug in their pots? I have a great 5-6" pot that I think will be perfect for future growth just don't want it to freak out in the new pot.

[bil]

Originally Posted by princesjess13

Thank you! Do they like to be real snug in their pots? I have a great 5-6" pot that I think will be perfect for future growth just don't want it to freak out in the new pot.

I personally think that their roots should be allowed to spread out. If you put them into a small pot thenn you are forever repotting and disturbing them, or they end up pot bound, which isn't good.

If you use coarse sieved bark, it will dry out fast and you will need to water three timmes a week. The upside is that the bark will take years and years to break down so it can grow well. Remember if you get the repot wrong, ie at the wrong time of year, then they can sulk for a year.

[princesjess13]

Originally Posted by bil

I personally think that their roots should be allowed to spread out. If you put them into a small pot thenn you are forever repotting and disturbing them, or they end up pot bound, which isn't good.

If you use coarse sieved bark, it will dry out fast and you will need to water three timmes a week. The upside is that the bark will take years and years to break down so it can grow well. Remember if you get the repot wrong, ie at the wrong time of year, then they can sulk for a year.

Thank you! I really appreciate your help!

[bil]

Originally Posted by princesjess13

Thank you! I really appreciate your help!

Pleasure. As an experiment, I once grew Cattleya in a tray with almost unlimited space. In under a year they had produced roots half a metre long.