Repotting Cattleyas: Removing Sphagnum, Water Meters, and Orchid Shows

The Sphagnum Problem in Your New Cattleyas

BLC Tatarown Green Cattleyas in sphagnum + styrofoam? Repot now into uniform bark mix. Retained sphagnum creates wet zones that rot roots while bark stays dry—new roots won't enter dry areas.

Correct Repotting

1. Unpot, remove ALL sphagnum.
2. Soak bark mix 1 hour.
3. Repot in uniform mix—no styrofoam needed with good drainage.
4. Ideal timing: when new growth/roots emerge.

Water Meters: Limited Use in Orchid Mix

They're unreliable in coarse mixes—readings vary near perlite (wetter), large bark (drier), pot bottom (wettest), sides (driest). If used, take multiple readings and average. No combo light/meter devices exist.

Orchid Society & Shows

Join Central Florida Orchid Society—great learning, great people. Shows are inspiring (Wayne founded Wisconsin's Orchid Growers Guild, missed first show in 25 years due to knee injury—get well, Wayne!).

Personal note from Angelo: ACL reconstruction 17 years ago, Ibuprofen was a friend, knee predicts storms in Ohio but not Orlando. Wayne: same knee, torn ACL 25 years ago, arthroscopic cleanup, 12-week MRI timeline. Orchid people are the best people.