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!

A new Cattleya at beginning of flowering, repotted.

A dear friend, orchid lover, came to visit us a few days ago, I could not avoid to take her for a ride in the greenhouses of my fauvorite orchid seller: Orchids & More! We spent a very pleasant couple of hours wandering around, surrounded by the surreal atmosphere created by thousands of orchids of all shapes and sizes.
Was great fun and relaxing to try the heady scents of dozens of different Cattleya in bloom!

Cattleya hybrid biginning flowering
var. Sophro Cattleya Chian-tzy Angieko 4 seasons
(pictur of 27 November 2012)

I chose this Cattleya thanks to my friend who got one but with already opened flowers, the deep purple color and the citrus scent convinced me, so I looked for one for me too ...

Orchids show Esslingen, 21 September 2012

Cattleya orchid, hybrid, dark red flower detail
(picture of 21 September 2012, Esslingen)

I waited a long time this event, international exhibitions are good to spend a beautiful day in the middle of a sea of ​​blooming orchids! I visited the site of the international exhibition of orchids Esslingen 2011 edition and there were many photos that I was really impressed, especially those relating to exhibitions, spectacular flower beds with trees and streams, all covered with ferns, mosses and hundreds of orchids in flower, I couldn't miss it! This was my first visit to the exhibition of Esslingen and was nice even though I expected that the fair was much larger, the exhibitors were provided but not as hoped and the prices were inflated almost all of which unfortunately is often the case here in  events  of strong appeal. Unfortunately many of the pictures I took did not turn out well because of the low light and of my camera, a bit dated, anyway there's still something  ...

Baby Cattleya are growing

My tiny SLC (sophro-laelio-cattleya) came from international orchids exposition of Munich, they were inside an Orchi-pack, 5 small seedlings of about 2 cm with roots in feeding jelly. The seller told me that it would take up to 5 years for the first flowering and he recommended me to don't open the glass for the next two months, to keep them in a quite place and so repot in small bark with sphagnum moss; What a shame he did not tell me not to remove the external sachet.

Sophro-laelio-cattleya
seedlings in sphagnum-therapy
(picture of 2 August 2012)
Hybrid: (Laelia Lucasiana x Cattleya violacea) x Love Knot,