Favorite Cattleya Mix

[DebsC]

What is your favorite media for large cattleya? If you have a favorite ingredient, list that, too and why you like it.

[isurus79]

I like to put wine corks stacked vertically (side by side) in the bottom of the pot and then use large grade bark for the rest of media. I also use plastic pots with 4-6 large slits cut into the side. This method allows for fast drying. Since I grow outside, if we get a few weeks of rain, I dont worry because the media dries so quickly.

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by isurus79

I like to put wine corks stacked vertically (side by side) in the bottom of the pot and then use large grade bark for the rest of media...

wow, that's a great idea for the plants... but just imagine, some of us would end up attending the AA meetings after so much wine and the worst is that we will not be allowed to say: "Hello, My name is XXX, I am alcoholic, but did it only for the sake of my chids!"

anyway, a great idea

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

wow, that's a great idea for the plants... but just imagine, some of us would end up attending the AA meetings after so much wine and the worst is that we will not be allowed to say: "Hello, My name is XXX, I am alcoholic, but did it only for the sake of my chids!"

anyway, a great idea

Drink up!! Its for a good cause!!!

I use strictly lava rocks. Some of my catts are outside all summer in the heavy Florida rainy season, and it works well for that application. I need something that will dry out fairly quickly and not rot.

I have really wanted to try that, but for some reason havn't yet. After all, I live on an island made of lava rock!! All the free media I could ever want!!

[DebsC]

Thanks Steve, my best growing large catts are in large bark. I've always summered them outside and wintered them in my sunroom.

But now I have a greenhouse and I'm trying to find what works best in that growing atmosphere.

Good, large bark isn't as easy to find as it used to be. Seems like a lot of the mixes say they have large bark but it's usually not, compared to what I was once able to get.

[Jo Ann]

That’s been a trial and error process for me this winter…I had Steve's problem to with the rain..I’ve come close to rotting a few.. when they say that there roots need to dry out in between waterings it means to dry them out completely …I’ve actually found out you don’t even need potting medium with cattleyas..they are extremely tough plants drought wise…The two I almost destroyed I’ve just left sitting in plastic net pots with no medium and just giving them a soak once or every other day depends on the weather and they are now regrowing new roots it just amazes me… one was down to just one little sad root and the other one just had little tiny green nubs…so for my own particular case I would say large bark and pots with lots and lots of holes for air and drainage…

[Magnus A]

I use large grade bark mixed with epiweb. I prefere medium that dries very fast and with pure bark in large pot my experience is that the centre never dries enough. Or it is very hard to get a feeling when it dries out.

I try to get the Epiweb in the centre and bark outside.

/Magnus

[Ray]

I use PrimeAgra brand LECA in a standard plastic pot. Absorbs well, dries fairly rapidly, and is always airy without fear of decomposition.

However, just because something works well for one, it does not mean it will for another.

[Jerry Delaney]

Originally Posted by Ray

I use PrimeAgra brand LECA in a standard plastic pot. Absorbs well, dries fairly rapidly, and is always airy without fear of decomposition.

However, just because something works well for one, it does not mean it will for another.

I think Ray has summed it up SO well with his statement that just because something works well for him does not mean it will for everyone. My own personal favorite is 4 parts medium bark, 1 part coarse perllite, 1/2 part medium charcoal, 1/2 part medium tree fern. If I am potting anything larger than a 6" pot, I place an inverted net pot in the center of the pot to keep the center from staying too wet. I have found over the years that it is much easier to modify your growing mix than to change your watering habits.

[Cynscats]

Originally Posted by Jerry Delaney

If I am potting anything larger than a 6" pot, I place an inverted net pot in the center of the pot to keep the center from staying too wet.

I have found that seedling pots inverted in the center of the larger pots work really well also. You can stack them up to just the right height for the rhizomes on a cattleya and create great small air pockets throughout the larger pots.