Question
QUESTION: Wayne,

I went to a plant sale this weekend and purchased a couple of BLC Tatarown Green Cattleyas which are fully grown, I am looking forward to seeing those bloom; hopefully within a year.

These were not planted on bark, but rather on sphag and had some styrofoam at the bottom. I have repotted them in bark and tried to take off as much of the sphag off as I could albeit I could not take some of it off given that the root were just "migled tightly" to the sphag. I kept the styrofoam at the bottom while repotting.

Question: is that OK? the plants look very healthy.

I also wanted to ask you regarding a watering meter, I live in Orlando and water once a week; I am wondering if a water meter such as the one shown below would be good to have especially around the summer it may be important to know if I need to water more often then once per week.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DI848/ref=pd_luc_sim_01_01

Not sure if there are devices out there that are water meter devices as well as light meters.

We have an orchid show this weekend sponsored by the central florida orchid society, I am really looking forward to that.

Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,
Angelo

ANSWER: Angelo, first, with regard to the repotting, you didn't mention if there was new root or shoot growth at the time of repotting.  The ideal time for repotting is when new growth is emerging.  Secondly, depending upon how much sphagnum has been retained, you could have a situation where there are contrasting zones in the potting mix.  While the roots may begin to rot by being too wet in tightly packed sphagnum, the rest of the potting mix may be relatively dry discouraging new root from growing into the "dry zone.  You should have a uniform potting mix so that wneh you feed/water. the entire mix gets uniformly wet.  I would unpot, remove the sphagnum, soak the bark-based potting mix for an hour and then repot.

Water meters have their limitations in an orchid potting mix.  Any irregular distribution of the ingredients can influence the readings. Examples include having the sensor near perlite which remains wetter, larger particles which may be drier, etc.  If you elect to use a water meter, several readings should be taken in different areas of the potting mix and, then, you can use the average.  Remember that usually the bottom of the pot will be the wettest (except when it contains styrofoam peanuts) and the top and area near the sides of a clay pot will be the driest.

I have not seen, nor heard of, a light meter that is in combination with a water meter.

Enjoy the show.  This is the first year I have not attended an orchid show.  The shows in Wisconsin and northern Illinois are now over.  I missed a step on the stairway here and injured a knee.  I was told to stay off from it so I did so. I was one of the founders of the Orchid Grower's Guild and its second president and have always been present to help with the show.  First one I have missed in 25 years.  Hope the knee heals so I can get back to more involvement. Why don't you consider joinig the Central Florida Orchid Society.  It's a good way to meet people who share the hobby and a great learning experience. Enjoy the show.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Wayne, I will follow your advice; I was kinda leaning that way.

I know what knee injuries are like. I have my left ACL re-constructed about 17-18 years ago; it has done very well since then. The only issue was when I lived in Dayton, Ohio since I could usually tell when a bad storm was approaching; I have not felt it that much in Orlando where we now live ;-)

At the time, while waiting for my surgery, I was given a brace to wear in order to keep my knee in proper form, condition. Perhaps your doctor can consider that.

Ibuprofen became my best friend when I would do anything physical given that it would keep it from swelling.

You did not ask me for my advice, but you've helped me several times thus I thought I would share my thoughts with you. ;-)

Hurry up and get well,
Angelo

Answer
Thank you Angelo.  The injured knee is the same one that had a torn ACL 25 years ago and my experience with that is similar to yours except that it ended up in shreds so they had to arthroscopically remove the entire ligament bit by bit.  The nice thing about it is that is that immediately after surgery I could walk normally without the use of crutches or other support.  They cautioned me that I would have to rely more on the muscles that supported the joint and needed to lift weights with my legs to strengthen them. I have done very well the past 25 years but that knee was obviously more volnerable to reinjury.  While it stands diagnosed as a bruise, occassional slippage in the joint suggests to me that it may be more than that.  In another 5 weeks (a total of 12 weeks after the injury) they will do an MRI if it isn't a lot better.   Thanks for sharing.  Enjoy the orchid show.   Wayne