Can cattleya survive in s/h?

[morphiii]

I just got myself a purple cattleya (Lc. Drumbeat "Heritage")today. It has 2 buds but I lost one of the buds on the way home from the nursery.

I am just wondering if anyone has tried growing cattleya in s/h.

How successful or not are they in s/h?

Thanks.

[pmckoy]

I recently repotted all my orchids in S/H. All are doing great, but the catts in particular are growing roots and new growths like crazy! I am using the worm tea on them and am thrilled with the results!

[gerneveyn]

I repotted a catt hybrid in s/h a month ago, and it's doing really well--new roots and a new pseudobulb.

[WIB]

I have mine in the ceramic balls (PrimeAgra), although they are also in clay pots and not standing in water. Nonetheless, they seem to like the medium very much and are doing well.

[jay]

I have two thriving in it. Both have new growths and sheaths.

Jay

[Mercedes]

I just replanted one of my catts in S/H, with worm tea. I can't wait to see what happens!

[Orchid664]

Most Catts , both species and intergeneric hybrids, seem to do well in S-H as long as you let them dry out before adding more nutrient solution. The two that were very unhappy is S-H for me are C. walkeriana and C. luteola. They are both mounted now and doing well.

[jay]

I don't let either of my Catts dry out and they are going crazy. I have only had them in S/H for about 2 months after their last flower. Since then, one has three new growths(one with a sheath already), and the other has 2 new growths(one with a sheath as well).

I feed/water with worm tea from OurVitalEarth.com


Jay

[Mercedes]

Originally Posted by jay

I don't let either of my Catts dry out and they are going crazy. I have only had them in S/H for about 2 months after their last flower. Since then, one has three new growths(one with a sheath already), and the other has 2 new growths(one with a sheath as well).

I feed/water with worm tea from OurVitalEarth.com


Jay

Jay, did you wait until they were in an active growth cycle to plant in S/H?

The catt I replanted was putting new roots out of its new growth. I have another that I think is in it's rest period, so I'm waiting to see some activity before I replant. It's been "dormant" for going on 3 months now though, so I hope I'm doing the right thing.

[Orchid664]

I always wait for roots to start before repotting Catts or Laelias unless there is an urgent need to repot.

[jay]

Both catts had just finished flowering and were in active growth. I try to repot to S/H after the flowering. The exception to this is paphs, they don't seem to care what time they are moved. I have moved in bud paphs without any problem.

Jay

[PhalPal]

I have just one mini catt and have her potted in DynaRok 2, not too different from s/h. I have only had it a month and it seems very happy, even the blooms stayed healthy after re-potting.

BTW - I use worm tea too.