Cattleyas - How Dry is Dry?

[estación seca]

I think the "dry between watering" idea originated with people growing with high risk of fungal attack: high humidity/poor air circulation, either from ambient weather or growing in a greenhouse, or growing in relatively cool homes.

There's usually plenty of air circulation on a windowsill without a fan. Extra can help prevent sunburn.

I would try to give Catts a temperature drop at night. The ones you mentioned are among those that tolerate higher night temperatures pretty well. Mine are happier spring and fall, with lower night temperatures, than in summer, when my growing area is around 85 degrees F / 29C most of the time.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by mopwr

I think what's confusing is how there's so many places pushing that the media needs to dry out completely between watering. I'm assuming that they give that advice because people tend to overwater, plus, they may be growing on a windowsill with just about no air movement?

I think the online advice from a lot of sources is just parroted from other sources by people who don't have much experience actually growing the plants they're advising on. It's frustrating. But I think we've built a pretty good community here on OB and it seems like we're pretty good about dispensing accurate cultural advice while knocking down the silly stuff.

[Ray]

I'd like to toss out another pertinent tid-bit:

If you have been allowing your plants to dry between waterings, because that works well the the potting medium, you CANNOT just arbitrarily increase watering with immunity.

The plant will need to grow a root system that works well with the "moister" environment, so it is best to make the change when new roots are emerging.

[Roberta]

While I favor the cooler-growing Catts because there isn't room for big "anythings" in my little greenhouse, my observation has been for those that were potted, they grew much better once they escaped from the pot. my conclusion, they really didn't want to be in a pot.. .roots like to run wild. And of course, if the roots are in the air, they are going to substantially dry out. I have gone, more and more, to baskets - wood or plastic - think of them as three dimensional mounts. The small amount of medium in the baskets holds some moisture, probably raising the "local" humidity.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Roberta

my observation has been for those that were potted, they grew much better once they escaped from the pot. my conclusion, they really didn't want to be in a pot.. .roots like to run wild. And of course, if the roots are in the air, they are going to substantially dry out.

An interesting observation, Roberta.

After reading that, my first thought was about growth pattern - some plants like to climb, some plants prefer to spread horizontally - it then I got to thinking about the stored nutrient and fuel “reserves” aspect, rather than just the growths being outside of the pot.

The larger the “colony” of individual growths, the greater the collecting, creation, and storage capacity for those reserves. The greater the stored “surplus”, the greater capacity for growth and blooming.