6 months on..

[tom499]

This Cattleya was put in S/H about 6 months ago, in a clear plastic pot, with some holes about half an inch from the bottom. Through the clear pot I could measure its growth, and decided It was certainly time for a repot already!

Of course, I can't say the growth is purely down to the method, but for me this method is certainly making good results with simple watering habits.

I haven't fertilised this plant the whole time its been in S/H, infact I rarely fertilise any of them, though I will be putting some in their spring feed, and over the summer.

I think as tips go, despite using the "S/H" technique, I do keep the Catts and Phals fairly drier than the Paphs and Phrags, letting the water in the bottom dry out before topping up, as the aggregate is very good at holding water and spreading it up through the pot.

The old roots from when I potted it up were brown and dead, but as a personal record, I saw far more new good roots than I have had before from new growths.

Tom499

[evagentry]

Impressive Tom, I have been thinking of starting some catts this way, you have given me impetus.Thank you .

[kmarch]

Good to hear from you Tom. This is good reporting and it goes along with someting I've been trying out for a couple of years now, namely growing cattleyas in pea gravel. they've been in the gravel more than 2 years now, almost 3 for the one. They're out-growing their pots though and I'm going to have to repot soon. It appears that cattleyas grow quite well in these inert materials.

[Bolero]

Hi Tom, some people also use perlite and this works equally as well. Maybe inert materials are the way to go. I am considering changing my media as well.

[tom499]

This is great to hear, I will maybe try some pea gravel in my next pot up as I could do with some heavier media to help keep the pots sturdier.

Maybe the better drainage and lack of constant organic contact reflects the environment they live in more than an organic substrate.

I will hopefully be posting more of these of other plants, including a Neofinetia which I've been trying out in aggregates.

[Hummer344]

This is interesting. Not only are you having good results with pea gravel, its also cheap, it doesn't degrade & is reusable.
Question 1. what is your watering & fertilysing schedual for your plants in this medium:
2. How do you prepare the gravel for re-use for other plants.
Thanks

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Hummer344

...Not only are you having good results with pea gravel, its also cheap, it doesn't degrade & is reusable.
Question 1. what is your watering & fertilysing schedual for your plants in this medium:

I water as often as 3 times a week in the hot dry summer or as little as once or twice a month in the cool damp winter and in between during the inbetwee times. I do find you have to pay attention to how hot and dry it is because the pea gravel holds almost no moisture. I probably should have watered every day this year during the hottest driest part of our summer. I do not fertilize.

Originally Posted by Hummer344

2. How do you prepare the gravel for re-use for other plants.
Thanks

I have not reused any of the gravel yet. I do not yet know how or even if I will reuse the gravel.

[Brooke]

Here is a catt I repotted today that was planted in a clay pot with Prime Agra. This was potted last April after I received it bare root from a lady divesting herself of all catts.



I have been using the Prime Agra for about two years and am switching all catts over to this media when the next repot comes around. During the summer I water about every four days and in the winter, much less. Root rot is not an issue with this media.

I know JoBeth uses hydroton with her phals and you can see her fat green roots through the clear pots. The bark business may need a bail out soon

Brooke

[cassier]

Those roots look great.
I have used peat gravel for Dendrobiums, haven't thought of using for Cattleyas though.

[Tom F]

So glad to see this as I just repoted catt in S/H earlier this week.

[hulaorchid]

The roots are amazing!
I will be repotting a catt later this week! My first guinea pig! wish me luck!