Brassavola or Brassocattleya in s/h?

[koshki]

I recently met Ray Barkalow and asked his opinion on these plants in s/h, but I'm wondering if anyone is growing either or both of these types of plants in s/h?

I'm having a difficult time keeping my brassavolas and my Bc properly watered in the CHC, and have been considering trying s/h for them. So, anyone with any results to share?

Thanks!

[Irene]

I had a Brassavola in SH and it did very well. Recently moved it to a mount but that had nothing to do with the SH. I just felt like it.

[davetheorchidaddict]

I had 2 large Brassavola nodosa in my S/H that thrived, unfortunately the cold got both of them so will get another one for my S/H - both were mounted in wood baskets with no medium.

[koshki]

Dave, do you mean they were mounted in baskets before you put them in s/h?

[tangers40]

my brassavola little stars is in s/h. seems to be happy as a clam. *shrug*

[koshki]

Thanks! I've got two brassavolas and one Bc. I might try one brassavola in s/h and see how it does before committing both to it.

The brassocattleya instructions I've seen say to "let dry between waterings" which is why I've hesitated with it so much. But I love it so much (it has the most wonderful scent in bloom), and I'm worried I'm not keeping it hydrated properly. Anyone have one of these in s/h?

[Ray]

With a few exceptions (tolumnias being one), I think the "let it dry between waterings" advice really has nothing to do with the plant, but it is meant to allow overly-compact media to lose enough water that the "bridging" water between medium particles dries out to open up air space and stop suffocating the plants.

Courtesy of daily rains and high humidity, many cattleya species stay constantly dripping for literally months at a time in the wild, so water is obviously not an issue.

Be sure that the plant is putting out new growth with accompanying new root nubs before moving it over to S/H. It's probably going to be a big transition in root environment conditions, so will need brand new roots to do best.