What potting materials do you use for your Slc?

[Cjcorner]

I recently "traded" with a friend on this site....so far I think I got the better end of the trade and hope I can find some things Becky will like. She really made my week the other day! I opened a box expecting one nice pretty oncid type and instead she had sent me 5! I sat with my mouth hanging open trying desperately not to yell into my mom's ear. We were on the phone at the time. lol
One plant has me stumped so I thought I would poll you all as to what You would do? What potting materials would you use to pot up a SophroLaeliaCattleya (Slc.)? of the Jewel Box 'dark waters' type?
I understand that it should be kept in Medium temps. and High light. And as it was in s/h before I'm guessing it'll like it a little wetter than most of my other catts.
Thanks all....
Connie

[Phyrex]

With catts I usually put them in straight bark where the bark pieces are not larger than approx. half the size of the p-bulbs. I have them in plastic pots but ceramics would be fine also.

[wetfeet101b]

For me, cattleya alliance plants are in wood baskets so they have very little potting mix. The younger catt baskets that do have a substrate, I just use medium fir bark and dont refill when the medium degrades. I just let it gradually wash out of the basket as the roots take over the space.

There is one exception, a large cattleya that is in Aussie Gold. But on the next repotting, it is going into a wood basket with very little or no potting mix at all.

[Cjcorner]

Hmm....okay. Thanks! I would not have thought to leave it that "nude", so to speak. But it's funny because recently I dumped almost all the potting materials off some of my catts and have noticed amazing root growth. The plant i'm trading to someone has roots like crazy, big white healthy and nice green tips on a few newer ones. It was one that I had taken almost all the potting stuff off of. I'll just give it a few coal chunks and some of this stuff...a little...just to help it adjust to being out of S/H.
Now I can get it settled in....thanks again!
Connie

[clintdawley]

For me, they eventually all make it to Hydroton alone. (Easy repotting that way.)