---
title: "What should I do with this in zone 11a?"
description: "What should I do with this in zone 11a?"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/JmTUi1iSQr6-tX35luAMXQ/655ad85ac740875476c74cf1"
community: "The Orchid Oasis"
author: "Siegal"
published: "2023-11-20T03:54:02.298Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/gck0CnbQ-1vXY7i6IX9iL9Ppa---uZD-tZTlMehfq3I/b73b3f2ce7364864a6f916e67048486c.webp?size=large"
---

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# What should I do with this in zone 11a?

_Posted by Siegal on 2023-11-20_

What should I do with this in zone 11a?

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/gck0CnbQ-1vXY7i6IX9iL9Ppa---uZD-tZTlMehfq3I/b73b3f2ce7364864a6f916e67048486c.webp?size=large)

## 7 comments

### Jen commented on 2023-11-20

What kind of orchid is that? The leaves look Cattleya-like, but the pseudobulbs look more like the canes of other orchids, like dendrobiums? Maybe catasetums?

#### Siegal replied on 2023-11-20

I have no idea!! It’s an old nursery that has lot of stuff growing wild over 50 years in addition to the potted plants and shrubs they sell. I just asked the guy if I can grab a little piece of something here and there.

#### Jen replied on 2023-11-20

Do you plant to keep it indoors? Not knowing what type it is, I would avoid direct sun in order to not burn the leaves (I might see some evidence of prior burn there.) Go with bright indirect sun, or a sheer curtain to block direct sun.

The roots are in rough shape, so you may have to water often before they start to grow. I’d use something water retentive like sphagnum moss as you wait for root growth, then switch to a moss/bark mix.

Keep us posted. This is an interesting one.

#### Siegal replied on 2023-11-21

I plan to keep him outdoors. I have a Bougainvillea tree that I tie my Mother’s Day orchids to and they are happy bc is formed a thicket of shade and ordering moss!

### Sybellina commented on 2023-11-21

This looks like one of my cattleya hybrids, where it’s got canes and fans. I wouldn’t place it with other orchids until it gets stronger because it could potentially have some kinda illness. I would recommend my favorite orchid YouTuber miss orchid girl and give this baby it’s own little ICU. Considering the state it’s in it looks like it’s hanging on. Please keep updates!

#### Siegal replied on 2023-11-25

She is happily encased in spagnum moss under a very shady tree outdoors and I am watering her twice daily

### MeasomerPi commented on 2023-11-25

I agree with Jen and Sybellina. The only thing I can add is last year one of my cattleyas lost pretty much all its roots. Unfortunately it wasn’t in active growth so I filled a pot with bark, placed the orchid on top of the bark. Then top dressed the whole thing with sphagnum and tried to keep the sphagnum from drying out. My thought was, keep moisture close to the plant while it’s trying to get the energy to root, but have a dryer environment for the roots once they develop. It also eliminated the need to a repot once the sphagnum was no longer needed. After 9 months or so, it’s doing well with a good amount of root development.

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