Chocolate Drop
 

Is anybody gowing one of these? Got a division from someone and not sure if it likes to completly dry out before watering. I saw online where it was planted in spaghum.

In my experience Catts like to get dry inbetween waterings - at least very near dry during growing, and completely dry in winter. i know some people grow them in sphag, but for myself - bark or coconut husk chips in clay pots - rotted roots on a few in plastic pots. Or have a couple in pumice in plastic pots.

What is pumice?

oh sorry - it's a volcanic rock - very porous. It's a bit like perlite, tho a bit heavier, and a bit less retentive of moisture. The Catts I have potted in it do need more frequent watering than the others - I was experimenting - they do seem to like it tho :)

catts like to dry out completely between waterings mostly....i think sphag would stay wet too long to suit your orchid....

I use a sphag top dressing on my catts with success- really helps the roots dig down in my dry environment.

I have one I brought home from Hawaii about 3 years ago. It gets watered once a week, a bit more in summer if it's hot. I've got it in CHC mix. That seems to hold enough water to last a week in the summer. I really depends on your conditions.

You're going to love this one. Mine bloomed for the first time this fall. It was gorgeous!

Thanks everyone. I think i will put it in clay & bark and see what happens.

My favorite Catt!!! :cloud9:

I grow them in very bright light, in clay pots, in either aliflor or hydroton (any LECA available really ;) )

cb977,
How often do you water them? Since you are in Florida I guess you have humidty. I am in dry dry dry Colorado

Hi,, I'm Sue :waving

It's REALLY hot here! :whew and humid! :faint:

I mist all the chids every day, sometimes I skip a day :blushing: While I'm misting, I also shoot some water down into the pots.

It works for me down here but I'm not sure it'll be the same out there :hmm

I like a NZ sphag top dressing or teh roots dry out. The sphag makes the roots dig deeper. I just mist with a wand sprayer most of the time.

People in FL or with greenhouses may just use very dry media but the ambient humidity is way higher. I live in an apt with central heating, dry air etc etc. In the NE only summers are humid. So what is good for one is not good for another. YOu need to try what is best.
I use mostly clay pots and net pots with coco chips and some leca. Can't find pumice, but I would like it.

If yr catt was in sphag well i wouldnt g to the extreme opposite. Where did you get it? was it from a greenhouse etc etc?

My top layer of sphag often is bone dry the next day after I water.

It is like dry rest. In a greenhouse it works in a centrally heated apt it will give you a dry weed you can make teas with.

also depends on pot sizes. I like small pots. so stuff dries faster. Actually i milke 2 or 3 " net pots with sphag and some leca at the bottom to add weight and drainage. drains fast and you can use a binder clip to attach it to a hook or a suction cup on the window.

I tend to not like plastic pots for looks and takes longer to dry sometimes.

In colorado if it is so bone dry i would use sphagnum and sometimes a plastic gatorade bottle with the bottom cut off on top of the pot as a mini greenhouse esp when humidity is low.

Well, I planted today. Put it in plastic with bark. Now have to figure out how often to water here where I live.

It wasn't in spag and actually I am not sure what it was in a friend of a friend gave me a division and it was not planted in anything when I got it. I wrapped a damp paper towel around it for a couple of days and today planted it. It looks healthy has 4 growths with leaves.

:Tup:

I have bamboo skewers - like for kabobs - in all my orchid pots to help determine when to water. :)

Mine's still a baby, but I can't wait for it to bloom. :biggrin:

:hello Shawna,I have the same one and grow it in plastic pot ,outside on my patio and it is blooming for me every year. It really depends where you live,I live in California and it is very dry and have some in spagnum moss and they growing very well,I had some planted in clay pots with bark but they where shriveling a lot so I grow them only in plastic right now with coconut husks and bark and they like it.Good luck with your orchid and happy growing:)Where do you live?

I live in Colorado. Planted this in plastic with bark last week but it looks really dry already been giving it some misting every other day.

Fresh bark will dry faster than the older media, for a few weeks at least.
I have skewers in all my orchid pots to help determine when to water - my plants have been doing much better since I started to do this.

Hello Shawna,I water mine once a week really good so whole bark is very wet,misting is not good for Cattleya.Did you get division from your friend with a new lead and new roots?If yes then your orchid should be ok ,but if not then is going to be in big stress.

I have that one too
I growed it under artificial light in plastic pot with bark. Now it's outside on a balcony for summer . I water it when I see it needs it! More now ( Paris air is very dry) than last winter. I think there is no rule for watering, only to let dry between waterings...for the frequency it depends on your growing conditions, medium etc... Mine is à big adult plant and it loves beeing in bark...