Cattlaya violacea in sphagnum
Login
User Name
Password   


Registration is FREE. Click to become a member of OrchidBoard community
(You're NOT logged in)

menu menu

Sponsor
Donate Now
and become
Forum Supporter.

Cattlaya violacea in sphagnum
Many perks!
<...more...>


Sponsor
 

Google


Fauna Top Sites
LOG IN/REGISTER TO CLOSE THIS ADVERTISEMENT
  #11  
Old 07-30-2024, 10:15 AM
Jmoney's Avatar
Jmoney Jmoney is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 391
Cattlaya violacea in sphagnum
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by aerides View Post
Thanks for responding, but the subject of this post isn't dependent on a photo. A cattleya in sphagnum is a catteya in sphagnum. It's a cattleya violacea in a plastic pot filled with sphagnum.
Generally, sphagnum is not a recommended medium for cattleyas. As to why a premier vendor these days has taken to sending expensive orders of everything in sphagnum is itself the subject of a conversation. Nevermind how one is expected to manage it.
Disappointing response, but thanks for your time.
I grow mature cattleyas in sphagnum and I get tremendous growth and blooms. I know several growers who also use sphagnum. It is not a medium for everyone and (obviously) certain requirements have to be met for it to be a viable option. It is particularly excellent for seedlings. In my opinion.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 07-30-2024, 12:18 PM
aerides aerides is offline
Member
 

Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 95
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by isurus79 View Post
Accelerating the wet/dry cycle can be done by dropping it in a clay pot (without disturbing roots) or by punching holes (I use an electric soldering iron for this) in a plastic pot. Increasing airflow across the top of the pot with a fan can help as well.
Great tips. This particular plastic pot is thin, translucent. It has two rows of 2" long vertical slits all the way around. I guess if I was going to pick a plastic pot to grow a catt in with sphagnum, this one seems ideal for the experiment. I wouldn't mind if there was a layer of drainage on the bottom though.
If it seems to be staying too wet for too long, the clay pot idea will give me a great option. (Luckily no roots have started growing through the slits yet.)
Thanks so much.
Reply With Quote
Post Thanks / Like - 1 Likes
Likes isurus79 liked this post
  #13  
Old 07-31-2024, 03:01 AM
estación seca's Avatar
estación seca estación seca is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Jun 2015
Zone: 9b
Location: Phoenix AZ - Lower Sonoran Desert
Posts: 18,627
Cattlaya violacea in sphagnum Male
Default

What are your growing temperatures and humidity? Catt. seedlings in sphagnum dry out here in 2-3 days.
__________________
May the bridges I've burned light my way.

Weather forecast for my neighborhood
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 08-02-2024, 05:17 PM
aerides aerides is offline
Member
 

Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 95
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by estación seca View Post
What are your growing temperatures and humidity? Catt. seedlings in sphagnum dry out here in 2-3 days.
I'm in the lower northeast US, on the cusp of the mid-Atlantic, and growing inside the house. Humidity never seems to be a problem for average hobby growing. Quite low in winter and satifyingly high, around 50%, in summer. By classic standards, I'd classify my temps as "warm", suitable for human comfort and for a large variety of generally adaptable orchids. Available natural light is spiked with high-energy LED spots that can be excessive for standard catt hybrids and mericlones if not watched.
The violacea was delivered on 7/25; watered on Friday, 7/26. I checked it today (8/2) because it was feeling quite light again. A little dampness in the bottom third so I expect to water it tomorrow Saturday, 8/3). 8 day gap seems within acceptable parameters. Do you agree?
Thanks.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 08-03-2024, 03:12 AM
Leafmite's Avatar
Leafmite Leafmite is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Sep 2010
Zone: 5b
Location: Ohio
Posts: 10,953
Cattlaya violacea in sphagnum
Default

Can you see the roots? All that matters is that the roots are healthy in whatever medium you have chosen. If the roots are happy in moss, then growing it in moss works for you.
__________________
I decorate in green!
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 08-03-2024, 12:34 PM
aerides aerides is offline
Member
 

Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 95
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Leafmite View Post
Can you see the roots? All that matters is that the roots are healthy in whatever medium you have chosen. If the roots are happy in moss, then growing it in moss works for you.
I can see that it has some roots along the sides of the translucent pot - they look like older roots though. Just bought the plant so don't really know what going on in the "dark interior" unfortunately. Not in growth currently, so probably not the best time to go exploring. Will take it easy on water anyway.

It's in front of a large double-glazed window which will keep most of the afternoon heat away. LED spot supplemental light, which I've noticed seems to have a very positive effect on rooting. If I err on the side of dryness, hopefully I'll notice any signs of dehydration quickly.

Thanks for your response.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 08-03-2024, 06:11 PM
estación seca's Avatar
estación seca estación seca is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Jun 2015
Zone: 9b
Location: Phoenix AZ - Lower Sonoran Desert
Posts: 18,627
Cattlaya violacea in sphagnum Male
Default

If it's taking 8 days to dry I would consider not soaking the moss when watering. Dip the top surface of the pot upside down into water for 1-2 seconds only, so the water diffuses through the moss.
__________________
May the bridges I've burned light my way.

Weather forecast for my neighborhood
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 08-03-2024, 08:54 PM
aerides aerides is offline
Member
 

Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 95
Smile

Quote:
Originally Posted by estación seca View Post
If it's taking 8 days to dry I would consider not soaking the moss when watering. Dip the top surface of the pot upside down into water for 1-2 seconds only, so the water diffuses through the moss.
I think that approach makes sense. Back in the days when orchid-growing as a hobby was taking off and instructions for would-be novice growers were becoming standardized (largely guided by the AOS) such partial watering was not encouraged. According to those guidelines, orchids should be watered until copious drainage occurred. Consequently, sphagnum moss was reserved for terrestrials and other moisture loving orchids (together with a far greater usage of clay pots than today). I admit to being infused with this approach.

A lot of that may have been because of the method and amount of fertilizing which also was so standardized, and such flushing discouraged the build-up of "salts" over time. These days people are using a lot less fertilizer so less build-up occurs. Also noticing that MSU Fertilizers readily available recommend fertilizing orchids in sphagnum once a month, but still with the reduced rate (which I expect will help so much with surface scum as well).

So, I will try very hard to take your advice. Sphagnum does become quite light even before it is quite dried out, which means that air begins to be reintroduced into the medium fairly soon after watering. This structural characteristic does make it attractive and tempting to use it as (in my opinion) a cross-over medium. Aside from that, there does seem to be something about the nature of cattleya roots in particular that requires them to experience a degree of actual dryness on their surfaces between waterings if they are to remain healthy.

This is mostly why I continue to not understand potting cattleyas in sphagnum in the first place when bark seems to work much better with far less fussing.

Thanks for engaging on this.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 08-04-2024, 04:55 PM
estación seca's Avatar
estación seca estación seca is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Jun 2015
Zone: 9b
Location: Phoenix AZ - Lower Sonoran Desert
Posts: 18,627
Cattlaya violacea in sphagnum Male
Default

My experience has been seedling Catts, in appropriately sized pots, in sphagnum moss, with daytime temperatures of around 80-85 degrees F / 26-30C, will use enough water to dry out in 2-3 days after the moss is thoroughly soaking wet. If it's taking longer your temperatures are probably lower than that.
__________________
May the bridges I've burned light my way.

Weather forecast for my neighborhood
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 08-04-2024, 06:17 PM
aerides aerides is offline
Member
 

Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 95
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by estación seca View Post
My experience has been seedling Catts, in appropriately sized pots, in sphagnum moss, with daytime temperatures of around 80-85 degrees F / 26-30C, will use enough water to dry out in 2-3 days after the moss is thoroughly soaking wet. If it's taking longer your temperatures are probably lower than that.
They are cooler, about 5 degrees F.

I'd written an earlier response to you that I tried your moderate watering idea with great success. I didn't do the topsy-turvy method, but have a small slender necked
watering can that is very controllable.

I checked the plant for dryness with a bamboo skewer before watering, weighed and recorded it. Watered it sparingly, checked for dispersal, weighed it again and recorded it again. I expect to be able to water it again in three days.

I feel very comfortable with the plant now. I use both bamboo skewers to check moistness in the bottom of the pot, and a kitchen scale measuring in grams.

Also was very happy to discover a healthy root tip coming down through one of the bottom drainage holes.

I lost the earlier message when I was trying to send a couple of pics. They kept coming out sideways on my post. As I was trying to fix that, I accidentally deleted the post. Duh. Maybe there are FAQs on Orchid Board for posting pics.

Thanks again for your great support. I feel very happy now.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
bark, mix;, roots, sphagnum, violacea


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Sphag vs. Bark Mix for Neofinetia Shoreguy Vanda Alliance - Neofinetia 14 02-01-2018 03:11 AM
Problems watering orchids in sphagnum moss Bafflepitch Beginner Discussion 20 07-07-2015 07:37 AM
Growing in pure sphagnum – I'm finding it's not so bad astrid Beginner Discussion 20 03-25-2015 03:13 PM
My experience with sphagnum moss MrHungx Beginner Discussion 31 02-16-2015 09:05 AM
Catt. violacea deflask isurus79 Propagation 13 04-14-2013 02:06 PM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:24 AM.

© 2007 OrchidBoard.com
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.37 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.

Clubs vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.