| I've purchased (for really cheap) several Cattleyas that were in the same condition and what I tend to notice is that the potting material, usually bark, has broken down which prevents good drainage which leads to wet conditions which encourages rot. The life span of bark is considerably shorter than the time it takes a Cattleya to get that size. There are quite a few folks who choose rocky mediums for that reason. Personally, I prefer to just mount my orchids and not have to worry about repotting. |