Coco Chips and Cattleyas

[Algyros]

At the suggestion of several geeks, I've switched all my phals to large coco chips and so far they seem to be doing quite well. I really appreciate the suggestion.

Now, I'm wondering about my catts. Does anyone here have any experience growing catts in coco?

[hera]

I would think that it would work well, especially because you live in a dry area. With some of the laelia hybrids though you should watch how often you water. They like to dry out some. Coco chunks and phals go together well because of the moisture retentive qualities of coco chunks. Catts can do well but you should watch the watering schedule carefully.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by hera

...you should watch the watering schedule carefully.

Actually this is excellent advice not just in this situation but whenever you try out any potting medium that is new to you. Sometimes I will even fill a pot with a new mix I'm considering and water it along with my orchids (no plant in the pot just the pot of mix) to see how it behaves (how fast it dries out, if it gets soggy, etc) before I put an orchid in it.

[Ron]

Originally Posted by Algyros

At the suggestion of several geeks, I've switched all my phals to large coco chips and so far they seem to be doing quite well. I really appreciate the suggestion.

Now, I'm wondering about my catts. Does anyone here have any experience growing catts in coco?

I have sold most of my big catts before and after my last house move, 3 years ago, I need the extra space at the time.
Now I have started all over again, currently have 3 flasks of Catts about 9 months old in compots of 12-18 mm CoCo Nuggets, with one lot repotted into 3 inch pots in the same mix.
They are growing very nicely in it.
I have found that there is more retention of fertilizer in the nuggets and so do not need to be fertilized as often as in bark, water is less often than in bark
You just need to be a bit more careful with it until you get use to the amount of water needed, especially on cool days.
Me and my plants just love it.
Best of luck

[sunshine]

The catt in my sig line is potted in medium coco chips and perlite. My catts love it.The coco chips hold moisture real well and the perlite allows for good drainage and air circulation. This has been the one of things I love about growing orchids. There are so many different mediums to experiment with. The best thing is you can mix different mediums together and find one that suits your growing needs where you live.

[orchids4me]

I use coco chips perlite and charcoal for my cats and it works well in the summer it was drying to fast for my water regimen so I added a couple table spoons of coir to the top of the media and watered it in to the media to hold a tad more moisture between watering s. Then in the winter cooler months I cut back watering a bit more because it dries even slower.
Make sure you soak and rinse the coco chips really well to get the salts out. The stuff I get a I soak and rinse over a weeks time rinsing it daily before use. Then add the perlite and charcoal to the amount I'm using to pot up with.(Rinse the charcoal also to get all the dust out befor I add it to the mix)
Good luck
Emmaye

[Bolero]

I don't like cattleyas in coconut and I've stopped using it. I find that after a period of time the growths don't grow as tall as they should and watering can be inconsistent as the top dries out but the lower layers can still be really wet.

[zaeem]

i have a few in charcoal and coco chips with daily spraying in my climate.Seems to grow but no blooms over the 2 years though they came in blooms.waiting.

[PhalPal]

I grow everything in shredded coco husks with cork chips. I love the stuff because it doesn't decompose as quickly as bark. What I change is the amount and size of cork, +/- some sphagnum for moisture loving types, tree fern for a more open mix and all my orchids seem to be very hppy. Cymbidiums with larger cork bits do well too.

[edgy]

hey Algyros....I have been wondering the same thing for a while now. I have decided to go the S/H route instead of the Coco Husk for a couple of my Catts. I had them in a bark, charcoal, perlite mixture but it seems they were drying out fast. I spoke with ninidazzle who lived here in Austin and she told me her catts did really well in S/H. After talking to Ray, also here on the forum, I decided to give it a try. It has only been a couple weeks now but they seem to be reponding well. If it continues I may move the rest of the catts to S/H. Something else to consider. How long have you been growing in Austin?

[Algyros]

I've been in Austin a little over two years. I wouldn't exactly call what I do "growing," since I don't have that many plants. For example, I only have four cattleyas.

Actually, I've been growing them all in S/H, using Hydroton. One, however, had never really taken to it, so, as an experiment, I've moved it to large coco chips. We'll see.

[edgy]

we'll have to keep in touch....I have another Catt that I've left in bark. If the S/H thing works for the others, I may move it that way. If not I'm going to Coco.....

[Joe Geoffroy]

Edgy

Good luck with your s/h. I have gone with all of my catts , Phals and even Dens. Yes I did have a hard time at first, getting use to watering and have lost some but all are doing real well now

joe

[hera]

Originally Posted by Algyros

I've been in Austin a little over two years. I wouldn't exactly call what I do "growing," since I don't have that many plants. For example, I only have four cattleyas.

Actually, I've been growing them all in S/H, using Hydroton. One, however, had never really taken to it, so, as an experiment, I've moved it to large coco chips. We'll see.

I have found that some catts love s/h and some don't. I've had the best luck with the bifolate types. Good luck with the switch.