I was wondering if it is a really bad idea to repot a mini-Catt into moss? I
don't think I have ever seen a mini-Catt grown in moss and thus I wonder.

Thanks,
Joanna

J Fortuna wrote:
I was wondering if it is a really bad idea to repot a mini-Catt into moss? I
don't think I have ever seen a mini-Catt grown in moss and thus I wonder.


If you don't think it's a good idea, why even ask?

J. Del Col

Alan Koch at Gold Country Orchids in California is one of the top mini-catt
breeders and he grows them in moss. If I recall correctly he puts some
styrofoam peanuts in the bottom of a clay pot and then wraps the roots in
moss and sticks it in the pot. When he moves up to the next pot size he
just pulls it out of the pot, wraps some more moss around it and sticks it
in the bigger pot. They need to dry out a little between waterings. (I'm
looking back at my notes from when he spoke here. Personally I moved the
plants I got from him out of the moss because I don't like growing much
besides pleurothallids in it under my conditions.)
-danny

"J Fortuna" wrote in message
news:TdCGg.11802$RQ5.6739@trnddc03...
I was wondering if it is a really bad idea to repot a mini-Catt into moss?
I don't think I have ever seen a mini-Catt grown in moss and thus I wonder.

Thanks,
Joanna

J Fortuna wrote:
I was wondering if it is a really bad idea to repot a mini-Catt into moss? I
don't think I have ever seen a mini-Catt grown in moss and thus I wonder.

I would think it would depend on the ancestry of the mini-cat. If it
has lots of Sophronitis in the background, it would probably do quite
well. If it has lots of Broughtonia, rupiculous laelia, Cattleya
walkeriana, or Cattleya aclandiae, you'll probably end up with mushy
roots.

OTOH, with a clay pot and very careful watering, you can probably grow
almost anything is sphagnum. On the gripping hand, if it requires
great care, what's the point?

Nick

danny wrote:
Alan Koch at Gold Country Orchids in California is one of the top mini-catt
breeders and he grows them in moss. If I recall correctly he puts some
styrofoam peanuts in the bottom of a clay pot and then wraps the roots in
moss and sticks it in the pot. When he moves up to the next pot size he
just pulls it out of the pot, wraps some more moss around it and sticks it
in the bigger pot....


Sounds like it's a matter of convenience for him.

I pot catts of all sizes in Diatomite. They grow and bloom well.

J. Del Col

There are many different ways to pot catts (and most other orchids). There
is no miracle mix that works great for everyone. The proper pot type, pot
size and potting mix depends on your growing conditions and how willing you
are to adjust your watering schedules for different potting media.

-danny

wrote in message
ups.com...

danny wrote:
Alan Koch at Gold Country Orchids in California is one of the top
mini-catt
breeders and he grows them in moss. If I recall correctly he puts some
styrofoam peanuts in the bottom of a clay pot and then wraps the roots in
moss and sticks it in the pot. When he moves up to the next pot size he
just pulls it out of the pot, wraps some more moss around it and sticks
it
in the bigger pot....


Sounds like it's a matter of convenience for him.

I pot catts of all sizes in Diatomite. They grow and bloom well.

J. Del Col

danny wrote:
There are many different ways to pot catts (and most other orchids). There
is no miracle mix that works great for everyone. The proper pot type, pot
size and potting mix depends on your growing conditions and how willing you
are to adjust your watering schedules for different potting media.


All of that is true. I also have orchids in bark, in sphagnum, on
volcanic rock, on cedar slabs, in terrestrial mixes, you name it.

J. Del Col

Hi Joanna,

I had very good luck growing mini-Catts in moss. Where I had a hard time
was in the repotting. When the moss goes bad and needs to be replaced, I
found the roots to be a matted mess with no easy way to remove the old moss
without lots of root damage. As much as I love moss, I grow mini-Catts in a
bark mix where repotting requires you simply to 'shake out' the old bark.

Pat


"J Fortuna" wrote in message
news:TdCGg.11802$RQ5.6739@trnddc03...
I was wondering if it is a really bad idea to repot a mini-Catt into moss?
I don't think I have ever seen a mini-Catt grown in moss and thus I wonder.

Thanks,
Joanna

I have grown catts of all types in about everything imaginable (you know
what my current preference is).

As far as sphagnum is concerned, the obvious key is keeping it fluffy and
airy. As was mentioned, Alan Koch is a big proponent, but you have to keep
in mind that he uses only the species of sphagnum designated as the 5-star
New Zealand type, which has a much longer life-span in the pot than do other
species, and he has tailored his conditions and watering regimen to match
it.
--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!


"Pat Brennan" wrote in message
...
Hi Joanna,

I had very good luck growing mini-Catts in moss. Where I had a hard time
was in the repotting. When the moss goes bad and needs to be replaced, I
found the roots to be a matted mess with no easy way to remove the old
moss without lots of root damage. As much as I love moss, I grow
mini-Catts in a bark mix where repotting requires you simply to 'shake
out' the old bark.

Pat


"J Fortuna" wrote in message
news:TdCGg.11802$RQ5.6739@trnddc03...
I was wondering if it is a really bad idea to repot a mini-Catt into moss?
I don't think I have ever seen a mini-Catt grown in moss and thus I
wonder.

Thanks,
Joanna

Pat,
Thank you very much for your response! I appreciate it.
Joanna

"Pat Brennan" wrote in message
...
Hi Joanna,

I had very good luck growing mini-Catts in moss. Where I had a hard time
was in the repotting. When the moss goes bad and needs to be replaced, I
found the roots to be a matted mess with no easy way to remove the old
moss without lots of root damage. As much as I love moss, I grow
mini-Catts in a bark mix where repotting requires you simply to 'shake
out' the old bark.

Pat


"J Fortuna" wrote in message
news:TdCGg.11802$RQ5.6739@trnddc03...
I was wondering if it is a really bad idea to repot a mini-Catt into moss?
I don't think I have ever seen a mini-Catt grown in moss and thus I
wonder.

Thanks,
Joanna

Nick,
Interesting response. I wish I knew enough about the different genera in the
cattleya alliance to understand why lots of Sophronitis in the background
would make it ok -- is it because Sophronitis have larger or firmer roots
than the others you mention?
Thanks,
Joanna

wrote in message
ps.com...
J Fortuna wrote:
I was wondering if it is a really bad idea to repot a mini-Catt into
moss? I
don't think I have ever seen a mini-Catt grown in moss and thus I wonder.

I would think it would depend on the ancestry of the mini-cat. If it
has lots of Sophronitis in the background, it would probably do quite
well. If it has lots of Broughtonia, rupiculous laelia, Cattleya
walkeriana, or Cattleya aclandiae, you'll probably end up with mushy
roots.

OTOH, with a clay pot and very careful watering, you can probably grow
almost anything is sphagnum. On the gripping hand, if it requires
great care, what's the point?

Nick

Danny,
Thanks. And I will research Alan Koch on the web based on your post, sounds
worth while.
Joanna

"danny" wrote in message
...
Alan Koch at Gold Country Orchids in California is one of the top
mini-catt breeders and he grows them in moss. If I recall correctly he
puts some styrofoam peanuts in the bottom of a clay pot and then wraps the
roots in moss and sticks it in the pot. When he moves up to the next pot
size he just pulls it out of the pot, wraps some more moss around it and
sticks it in the bigger pot. They need to dry out a little between
waterings. (I'm looking back at my notes from when he spoke here.
Personally I moved the plants I got from him out of the moss because I
don't like growing much besides pleurothallids in it under my conditions.)
-danny

"J Fortuna" wrote in message
news:TdCGg.11802$RQ5.6739@trnddc03...
I was wondering if it is a really bad idea to repot a mini-Catt into moss?
I don't think I have ever seen a mini-Catt grown in moss and thus I
wonder.

Thanks,
Joanna

Thanks, Ray.

"Ray" wrote in message
. ..
I have grown catts of all types in about everything imaginable (you know
what my current preference is).

As far as sphagnum is concerned, the obvious key is keeping it fluffy and
airy. As was mentioned, Alan Koch is a big proponent, but you have to
keep in mind that he uses only the species of sphagnum designated as the
5-star New Zealand type, which has a much longer life-span in the pot than
do other species, and he has tailored his conditions and watering regimen
to match it.
--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!


"Pat Brennan" wrote in message
...
Hi Joanna,

I had very good luck growing mini-Catts in moss. Where I had a hard time
was in the repotting. When the moss goes bad and needs to be replaced, I
found the roots to be a matted mess with no easy way to remove the old
moss without lots of root damage. As much as I love moss, I grow
mini-Catts in a bark mix where repotting requires you simply to 'shake
out' the old bark.

Pat


"J Fortuna" wrote in message
news:TdCGg.11802$RQ5.6739@trnddc03...
I was wondering if it is a really bad idea to repot a mini-Catt into
moss? I don't think I have ever seen a mini-Catt grown in moss and thus I
wonder.

Thanks,
Joanna

J Fortuna wrote:
Nick,
Interesting response. I wish I knew enough about the different genera in the
cattleya alliance to understand why lots of Sophronitis in the background
would make it ok -- is it because Sophronitis have larger or firmer roots
than the others you mention?
Thanks,
Joanna

Well, most of the minicatts with Sophronitis in their background are
descended from S. coccinea. S. coccinea is from a region with very
high humidity, so it grows well with fairly constant moisture. The
other minicatt parents that I mentioned are from more xeric
environments and tend to grow best in very well drained mixes with
significant drying between waterings. Some of them (e.g. C. aclandiae
and C. walkeriana) grow best on mounts and are difficult to manage in
pots. Since Sphagnum works best if it is never allowed to become
completely dry, I figured that they wouldn't be good candidates for
growing in moss.

Compare the description of S. coccinea habitat with that of C.
walkeriana:
http://mirandaorchids.com/species05coccineaVGA.htm
http://mirandaorchids.com/species16walkerianaVGA.htm