New to the catts

[justintimedc]

Hello! I just started adding a few compact growing catts to my collection a few months ago. I think I have around 10 of them now. Most seem to be doing OK, but I have lost one, and I think I am losing another one. Most that I have purchased were potted in sphagnum moss, with clear pots. I water all my orchids once a week, in the shower, soak them good, then back on bakers racks with nice south facing windows. Since these guys were generally smaller pots than my phals, I figured they would need AT LEAST once a week watering, but I am wondering if being too wet is my problem with these couple of plants. The moss never did totally dry out, should I let it get pretty dry? The plants that are not doing so well had some rotten roots, then the leaves turned a yucky brown/black/yellow and got soft, fell off. Do catts need to be dryer than I am used to? Or is something else going on?

[ScottMcC]

I will preface this by saying that I'm certainly much less experienced at this orchid thing than you.

catts like to dry out between waterings at least some. I don't really know if sphagnum is the best choice for catts...all the ones I've seen in stores have been in bark mixes. two of mine are in s/h, the other one is in bark mix (until repotting time when it is going to make the move to s/h).

you might want to check out this thread: click here

[justatypn]

Justin, I have had my share of problems with my catts but the one thing I did learn is that watering is crucial for maintaining their health. I as well went through the cycle of watering once a week, now my catts get water every 10 days with misting every day, which I do in the a.m. only. To much watering will definitely get you in the snow mold mode like Docs posting, not to mention other ca-ca mung conditions. S/H would be the way to go but a slow process in one I am soon to make change but in the meantime, I take wooden shish kabobs skewers and place them in the middle of my medium and when it comes time to water I pull the stick to check the medium for moisture. Keep us posted...gl

[Tindomul]

How much distance should there be between the top of the water layer in Semi/Hydro, and the suface of the pot?