Dendrobium phalaenopsis white flowers

Dendrobium phalaenopsis, orchid hybrid with white flowers

How to repot a Cattleya orchid in bark and sphagnum-moss

The basic steps of my repotting of a Cattleya orchid in bark and sphagnum moss:

1. rinse bark under hot running water;
2. soak it in osmosis water (or distilled or rain water) at least for one hour;
3. let drain off;
4. place a first compound layer in the pot;
5. place the plant;
6. fill the pot without pressing, leaving at least one visible root; 
7. free the holes at the bottom of the pot;
8. cover the exposed roots with some wet sphagnum;
9. water soak(or shower from above) when is dry;
10. fertilize at normal dose but only during active growing.

Cattleya orchid, repotting
in bark and sphagnum compound

The Cattleya plants are epiphytes in nature, as well as the Phalaenopsis, they grow suspended, stuck in the branches of trees with their strong and spongy roots ready to absorb every drop of rain water that flows through and dry out quickly on the light breeze of tropical forests . You can not play these exact conditions in a flat, so that every enthusiast is looking for a practical solution as much as possible good to growth, and maybe the blooming of these fascinating orchids. To convince a Cattleya that the best place to stretch its roots is the vessel that we provide we must try to make it airy but moist, never soggy or compact!