I am trying to grow a cattleya orchid, but I don’t know a lot about them. I have been all over the internet, but they all say different things. I know that they have a special pot, and that the roots should dry between waterings. But does anyone know which plant food and medium are the best? I have saw sites that say to use coconut bark, charcoal chunks… And fertilizers… Ugh! 11-35-15, or 20-14-13… Help! I have a cattleya on the way and I already have a happy phalaenopsis (unless anyone knows a fertilizer I should feed him. ) Help! I already have a planting medium that is supposed to be made for phal’s. Could I use that for the Cattleya? I love the cattleyas, and I want it to grow and be healthy. Any tips? Thank you!!!

I bought a minature cattleya orchid (it's bright orange) from BB Barns in Asheville,NC in May 2004. It's now in Greenille,NC. When I bought it it was in full bloom and gorgeous. At first it just put out lots of new leaves and pseudobulbs but no new flowers. It then got severely dehydrated when I went on vacation and the person who was suppossed to water my plants forgot. Most of the leaves are kind of shrivelled and yellowish green rather than dark green. I've got it potted in sphagum moss and make sure it is kept moist and fetilize with Better Grow Orchid Plus and Better Grow Bloom Boost but it still looks like it is dying although I do have some new growth. I have been keeping it in a west facing window except in summer when it moves to a south facing window. I also have three other cattleyas bought more recently whose leaves are turning slightly yellow-green and some of the bottom ones have died. What can I do to bring it back to its former glory?