Deflasking Cattleyas aclandiae and schilleriana - ideas?

[Dekejis]

Hey everyone, so here's my first official post to the board. I'm expecting a few flasks in the very near future, and amongst them are flasks of Cattleya aclandiae and Cattleya schilleriana. I have some experience in deflasking Paphs and Phrags, but I've not deflasked Cattleyas before. I'm aware of the fact that the bifoliates have a strong distaste for wet feet and so I'm trying to find the best media choice for potting these babies into a compot.
So far, I'm considering using a mix of Lava rock (at the bottom), a medium sized aliflor, some sponge rock and maybe a little chopped cork, and I was considering potting them into either slotted or net pots and them keeping the compots in a covered container (fish tank, humidity done, etc.. something I can punch some holes for ventilation into..). After which I was going to acclimatize them slowly to harden them off. Currently I'm growing under lights (no greenhouse for me just yet, but hopefully someday soon). I may also try a few plants with the s/h method..
Does anyone have experience with deflasking these species that can provide some input? I fear I might be going overkill and I don't want to lose these babies.
Thanks all!
Dana

[Ray]

I think you are heading straight for overkill. Unflask them and pot them up. If you want, you can try a few variations on the medium to see what works best, because no single medium is the answer - it's a matter of all of the cultural aspects that determines success.

Let me ask this: you stated that "bifoliates have a strong distaste for wet feet", but they are in agar in the flask, aren't they? Can't get any wetter than that.

Orchid roots tailor themselves to the environment they are in when they grow. The in-flask roots are fine with moisture, and will not do well if taken from that and grown dry. The new roots that grow after you pot them up will be tailored to those new conditions, so the key is to keep the plants healthy while they adapt.

[Dekejis]

Thanks, Ray! I think you're right; I appreciate the response.

[missbehavecutie]

i read on another thread about schilleriana's that they are originally lithophytes ? no sure of my spelling there but that should be a good indication of the kind of medium they like , coarse i'm assuming