New baby: FIRST S/H !!!

[renata]

Hi, everyone!!!
Take a look at the new baby I gave myself for birthday, hehehe....
It's a Cattleya loddigesii white....(the last white, I promise... ), I loved it..
There's just one problem...It came with flowers but with bare roots, so I had to "repot" it with flowers and all = disturbance + change of city = Stress!!!!!!!!!!!!
Since I was crazy to try some S/H and it seemed like the method of least disturbance to the roots, That's what I chose for..............
Please, tell me: Do you think it will be ok?? Take a look at the pics, see if i've done everything right!

Thank you guys, once more!!!!!!!

[fred]

what a very nice birthday present
looks pretty good to me.
I think you have done very well

Happy Birthday

[kmarch]

renata, it looks like you might have buried the rhizome, the part of the orchid from which the pseudobulbs grow. The mix should be at the level of the rhizome not above it. In nature the rhizome would grow along the surface of the tree park or whatever the plant was growing on. It would never be covered or buried. In cultivation, burying the rhizome can cause problems. Consider removing just enough fo the mix to expose the rhizome.

As for the flower....it's stunning...I mean really something....probably among the top 5 or 10 Cattleya loddigesii I've seen. Grow this cattleya well because it has an exceptionally nice flower.

[Chubidubi]

It's beautiful Renata. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

[renata]

thanks FRED, it took a little while and a lot of patience to do my first S/H, but with everybody's help, I hope I manage to grow this chid well....!!!!!

KMARCH, you've made a great point, I was really in doubt about it, that's the beauty of S/H, just take off some of it and that's it, hehehe...very forgiving!!!
As for the flowers, I really feel honored that you think it's so good, when I saw it on the website, it was even better, but after the tight mailing box, well, let's say it was a little bent....Hope I can give everything this baby needs, since it will worth all the effort....Thanks again!!!

Thanks CHUBIDUBI!!!!!!!!!!!!

See ya!

[dolo3]

Happy Birthday, nice choice for a gift! Does it have fragrance? I don't have many catts but that one makes me want some!

[renata]

DOLO! I think you should have all the cattleyas you dream of, hehehhe....Yes, it has a fragrance, but it's discrete, wouldn't say it's among the most fragrant cattleyas...It is possible that it has been open for a while, maybe newer flowers have more scent, can't really tell you...but sure it's a good species to grow, they say it isn't hard...heheheh...Thank God!!!!!!!
See ya!

[jay]

Looking good. I can't wait until you start seeing the roots go crazy in there.

[snowballsarebad]

That is a beautiful flower! It looks so perfect. Happy birthday!

[Sassismom]

Really beautiful!!

[nenella]

Very Beautiful ! White is my favourite orchid colour

[arleneg]

Happy Birthday, Renata!

Beautiful white Catt you have there. Take care of it.

[renata]

Thanks everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope everything goes great with this one!!!!!!
See ya!

[butt0n]

That is a very pristine white...very beautiful

[patticake]

How pretty! I love a pure white bloom. They're so fresh! I've never potted with S/H, so I may be all washed up here, but aren't there supposed to be holes drilled about 1 inch up from the bottom around the base? If they're there, and I don't see them against the white pot, then I'm sorry. If the pot is solid, it will hold too much water I think...

I'm not being negative, mind you- I just want to make sure you grow that beauty as nice as can be! Good luck with it!

[articuno75]

Very lovely

[renata]

Patticake, you're absolutelly right!!!!!!!! I made one hole, but it doesn't appear on the picture, I didn't want to make more holes for now, cause here the air humidity is desert like, around 15-20% this time of the year!!!!!!!!
On the other hand, I made the hole a little closer to the bottom, so that the water reservoir is shallower than usual.....The roots aren't touching it yet..
On the rainy season, maybe I'll make more holes...Thanks a lot anyway, you are so right to be concerned ...

Thanks Articuno and Button!!!!!!