Uncle_vito wrote:
> I have some cattleyas that are basically potted in air (the plants are
in a
> pot and the roots are bare with no media). How do you water these? Do
you
> soak the roots for a few minutes or do you just spash the roots with
water?
>
> I have been soaking the roots for a few minutes when I have time, other
> times I pour water over them and it immediately drains out.
>
> Thanks for all replies
>
> Uncle Vito
>
>
>
What is commonly missed is that these plants neeed a good deal of water.
They don't like to stay wet, but they still need the water. Your
'potting' situation is ideal IF you have the plants stabilized so there
is no movement to harm the new growing roots. And the best watering
regimen for them is several times a day for an extended period of time.
In their natural habitats, when they get water they receive it over a
prolonged period of time, that is, it rains for several hours or the
heavy mists in the AM last for hours. What media do in a pot normally is
provide a chance for the plant to absorb water for a while as the medium
stays wet.So, bareroot in a pot, have a mister on them three or four
times a day for 5-10 minutes at a time.It's labor intensive, but then
you have chosen to go without medium, which requires you to more closely
mimic their natural environment without the baffer of a medium.
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