New LC
 

If this belongs in another forum feel free to move it.

I finally received my Lc. Gold*Digger*'Fuchs Mandarin' (Red Gold x C. Warpaint)*from my friend in NJ. It came potted in a mix of medium bark/vermiculite/ sphagnum moss and is quite moist. My plan has been to switch to s/h but thought I would ask for some care advice first. As you can see, the plant looks healthy, with green roots and a new shoot. Not sure if this is spike or new growth. This is my first Catt alliance attempt. Will it set this plant back to repot now? If not, I have larger bark and s/h materials. (A combination of leca and rock wool cubes.) The plant is solid in the pot but appears a bit floppy. Should I stake it, or with it being outside in full sun (I have it under shade cloth) help the stems to grow more upright? Any advice from the cat growers is greatly appreciated.
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https://i.postimg.cc/fVD7GbCS/20210507-075011.jpg
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That looks to me like a new shoot. (Spike could come from above the leaves like the rest of the Catts) I'd watch it for a bit, but if you see the sign of new roots, that would be the time to repot it. (And that would be a good idea...the mix looks 'way too water-retentive for a Catt. ) In the meantime, it does need to get almost dry before watering again.

Thanks Roberta. That's what I was thinking. The mix was used because the owner had it inside for the winter and the mix works well for his low humidity environment. This is a piece of a 20 yr old plant that was crawling out of its pot. Now, bark or s/h? I only want to repot once. Any thoughts? Anyone? Ray?

In your high humidity, I'd be afraid of bark staying too wet. If you use it, use the biggest bark that you can find. And basket likely better than a pot. (I have found that Catts grow better in baskets anyway, but that's under my conditions... even though it's a lot drier at my house than at yours) From what others have said about semi-hydro, it likely would work well. (Since I don't use the technique I am not familiar with the details but there are plenty of Board contributors who can advise from extensive experience)

It's floppy from too little light. You can fix that going forward. Don't move to S/H until new root nubs form. For now, if you want to move it to S/H eventually, I would put it someplace warm and put a fan on it so it dries out faster.

I have a Gold Digger Dusty.
It's a different cultivar but mine tends to be what I refer to as a "floppy" grower. Great bloomer though.

I'd just try to get it as far down in the pot as you can when you re-pot it. Mine is in straight up medium Rexius fir bark.

These are last years pics but it's a Feb bloomer here for me. I think I had something like 30 flowers this year. What I really love about it is how high it presents the flowers. Thank you momma Laelia. :D

ES--- we must be using same thesaurus. :D

Not sure you could convince me it's a light issue.
I think anytime you have a Laelia/Catt cross when you get the big heavy Catt leaves on those thin Laelia pseudo's, I see the tendency to flop. It's also exacerbated by the Laelia desire to "climb up" as it matures. Hence my suggestion to get it as deep into the pot to start as you can.

hold on- how did you make that flower spike twist and bend like that? that is the weirdest thing- i thought it was a root at first

Ah, the observant one. :rofl:

Let's just say when you have too many plants crammed together on a bench sometimes "interesting" things happen. :biggrin:

Yep. That's the one! I will take your advice along with the others, and thanks for the growth description. I have some long, metal stakes for when the spikes come!