how to grow large cattleya in a basket
 

Hello

I have a few large size cattleya that need to move into baskets. I have a small grow space so large pots are not ideal and I want large specimen plants so dividing is not an option either. I understand larger catts do fine in baskets without medium but I am not sure how to establish them. Should I attempt to line the basket inspag moss or put some in with the roots in the basket? Or do I just plop the plant in and let it be?

The key is to use a medium that will not decompose, as you want to go a long time between repotting jobs.

I have a large catt - Rhyncanthe Rose (Rhyncholaelia glauca x Guairanthe skinneri) in a large basket with #7 Orchiata bark, but LECA might be a good choice too.

I'd follow Ray's advice for the medium. I've never had a problem using coco husk liners. They actually make things easy when it comes time to repotting time...if you plan to repot in the future. The degradeable stuff in the medium is what you need to avoid for big cattleyas. Using just a little can even cause problems. I learned this the hard way and now I have 12 divisions of my "pride and joy" cattleya. She's just a noid but she was big and beautiful, and it nearly broke my heart when I had to divide her.

I prefer large clay pots with hydroton for my specimen plants. But if you don't want to use a pot my favorite item for establishing a cattleya in a wood basket is tree fern fiber chunks. The one's I get are about 2" square. You can cut them into the size pieces that you need. I sometimes fill in the gaps with hydroton. You can push a wood orchid stake through the top gap in the basket to hold the plant in it until it becomes established. Eventually the plant will just be growing on the wood basket itself.

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...re7082-011.jpg

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...re7151-026.jpg

I think tree fern chunks it is. I am actually going to try and make the baskets (crosses fingers) so I will put some pictures up when I finish.

Seabead, This picture isn't very good but hopefully you'll get the idea. This is one way to secure orchids into a basket. I run the stake through the basket on both sides. It's tight enough that I have to push down on the rhizome to get the stake through the other side. Of course you can remove it when the orchid is well established.

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...re7727-011.jpg

Before you start dividing make sure you have new growths with active growth, timing matters. They'll establish must faster when the new roots cling on the basket, otherwise, it could take months to establish and the new growths are usually stunted. Secure tightly on the basket, place in high humidity area and water sparingly to stimulate more root growths. Good luck!

Thanks for the tip Tucker!

I think a completely inorganic media is the best way, as you want to leave a plant for several years to get to be a real good specimen plant, and I am pretty sure there is no organic media that will last 4+ years without causing any major problems. The major thing to keep in mind though is to make sure to rinse the media with good clear water often, as salt build-ups will hurt the plant. Maybe you can grow it in a smaller basket for a year or two with organic media, and then once it is larger, remove the whole basket (you will probably have to take it apart), and then repot it into a larger basket with inorganic media.

OMG!!! This cross sounds spectacular, do you have any bloom pics? PLEASE!!! :bowing :bowing :bowing

You could do all hydroton or try ecoweb. It's a inorganic tree fern substitute.