Cattleya in moss?

[Ana]

I'm sure someone has probably asked this along the somewhere along the way, (or it's supposed to be common sense) but I'm kinda new at this whole cattleya thing. I just purchased a cattleya, and as far as I can tell, it is completely in moss. 1a: Is that bad? or, 1b: How bad is that? 2: Will it be okay if I don't repot until the moss is all bad, or does it need it fast?

Thanks!

[Leafmite]

I would put it in a large, fast-draining mix as soon as possible. Leca, lava rock, anything that drains fast.
Leafmite

[orchids4me]

Is this Catt a mature plant or a seedling ?

[Bolero]

Nothing wrong with Moss, nurseries use it. But if your other plants aren't in it and if you don't know how to grow catt's in it then I wouldn't risk it until you have more experience.

Moss can grow catt's better than anything if done properly and I think it works well in a really dry environment.

[plucker]

Moss is the best growing medium if used correctly.

If used incorrectly it is horrible and probably the worst.

It must be fresh and replaced annually ish. PH starts to change after that stage and does funny things which is usually bad. Also it will become waterlogged when older, causing rot.

It must be packed loosely which allows roots to air. If water flows freely through the pot when watering then it is OK.

Moss does not handle cool places well. If you get cool spells it will cool the moss and freeze the roots off your plant literally.

Most people shy away because the conditions they have dont handle it, or they dont have a good understanding of how to maximise it's use.

[Hummer344]

I certainly agree with the above assesments of a cat being grown in moss. You have to be VERY carefull how much water you water it as moss will stay wet much longer than other potting mediums and cats don't like wet roots. If its blooming I would let it finish its bloom then re-pot it into a better mix. If its not blooming I would re-pot it as soon as possible. In the meantime, I would use a skewer to judge the wetness. I have just purchased a mini cat and its in moss. Its blooming its little heart out with more buds on the plant. It will be a few weeks before I re-pot it.

[Mira-Claude]

Most my catts are in a mix of back, charcoal, perlite with a little bit of sphag to help raise the humidity level in this house.
What I keep in mind is that cattleya love to dry out and therefore I make sure they do dry out in under 48 hours.
So far so good! They grow like weed!

[janet_a]

i think lots of nurseries leave their plants in their seedlings plugs; that may be what you have. but i agree that catts should be in a faster draining mix. there's also the issue of trying to keep the plant upright once it gets bigger; i'd think you'd have to do a lot of staking in moss.