Curious Cattleya Roots

[BobInBonita]

Tuck and GoodGolly
As a relatively new participant here, I value your posts - please don't refrain from offering opinions.

I was disturbed by the direction of this and a couple of other posts (by other authors) recently.

What makes Orchidboard great is that people actually seem to leave ego out of it.

In many threads you can see different sides to the same question. Users can pick what fits their growing style and philosophy.

It seems lately that more folks (not just in this thread) are pushing "my way is right", which is probably the only wrong approach.

If Orchidboard goes that way, it will become like so much of the internet - a place for quick confrontation and extreme views.

Please don't stop posting, but please leave the door wide for alternative approaches. We all learn most by comparing and trying different things, not by following one style blindly. When territorial marking starts, communication stops.

Thanks for letting me vent, and hope this doesn't offend either of you.

[Melody]

BobInBonita,
Thanks for your post. I agree completely.

This board should be a safe place for people to post their thoughts and ideas without the fear of being attacked. I created this thread because I value ALL member's opinions and am a bit saddened that this thread has gotten a bit off topic.
So....
The current topic of this thread should be: Everything I'm doing wrong and how to fix it. hahaha...

[Claire25]

Hi Melody,

I would bet that your Catt's new growth is stunted due to lack of light. Unless you are providing supplemental light, a north window (in the Northern hemisphere, anyway) will not give Cattleyas anywhere near enough light to grow strongly or to flower.

Try moving your plant to a sunny window. But, be careful--suddenly increasing the light levels can burn plant leaves.

I think that having your orchid in basically two types of media (moss and bark, is that right?) is not optimal. (Bark and moss hold different levels of moisture and dry at different rates). I'd recommend you repot it soon, check on the roots, and then repot into fresh media of your choice.

--Claire

PS Tucker, please do not stop posting. As a new-ish grower myself (I've only been obsessed with this hobby for the past 16 years or so, ) I have ALWAYS enjoyed reading your posts; they've been so helpful to me.