"Cattleyas" tend to grow roots in spurts and this will vary according to the type of "Cattleya" you have. I intend to start repotting/ tidying up my collection in the coming week and will probably finish about December (Southern Hemisphere) .
If you have good growing conditions your plant might have done better potted up. Sorry, have no idea what good growing conditions are in PA

I see. No, probably not the best growth conditions for orchids. I have two phals that do very well but then again they're in great shape. They stay indoors under a multi spectrum growth bulb. Why did you put "cattleya" in quotes though, have I committed some major orchid faux pas?

I guess, to clarify, I'm wondering if I should give it a shot and pot it in an extremely small pot, or continue to keep it in the moss for quite a while longer until it develops a better root system.

Not a major orchid faux pas at all, but other genera appear in the breeding of "Cattleya" hybrids and in some hybrids no Cattleyas are used. So if you joined an orchid society or put your orchid in a show the section might be called Laeliinae Hybrids.
I'd give it a go and pot it up in a small pot.

Thanks! I thought that was what you meant. It had a specific name when I bought it and I thought I could remember it but obviously I cannot.
I think I'll try potting! I'm wondering if I should just use sphagnum moss because the roots are so small and the moss will retain moisture well.

This post was edited by Meezer42 on Sat, Jul 26, 14 at 22:52

Yes, provided the plant is fairly tightly potted. Too big a pot and the roots will not dry enough between watering intervals.
You want the roots to grow and quickly attach to the sides of the pot. Under-potted is much better than over-potted
Good luck and I hope this helps

I agree with Arthurm. Pot the plant. It should not be in a ziplock. Worse possible thing you can do, amazing its alive at all.

Orchids grow on rocks and trees. Their roots have adapted to collecting water from rain. They must have lots of air flow. Ziplock bags do not provide either.

Put the plant in a small pot. You can use small bark mixed with sphag. Water when dry. Most important, put in your brightest window. Not direct sun until it adapts.

These plants like sun and warmth. They do not want their roots kept wet. They must dry out between waterings. Put the little plant outside if you can.

Jane

Hello folks:

I think a plastic bag is an invitation for rot - no air circulation.

I have found that a rootless catt - even just a pseudobulb or "back bulb" can be revived and develop roots in just perlite in a clay pot. It's loose and allows air circulation. Or a net pot with coarse charcoal and bark perhaps. (Sphag can line the net pot to keep the chunks inside)
Humidity for the leaves, but definitely the wet/dry routine for the roots. Roots actually need air circulation for oxygen, just as the leaves consume carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, roots of any plants absorb oxygen for their metabolic functions. Epiphytes in trees are getting constant air circulation and wet-dry conditions and evolved depending on it.

Taking a cue from Nick in California - (Hi Nick) I recently put a near rootless rescue (BC Binosa) in a net pot with coarse bark and charcoal and a bit of sphag. Then put that net pot into a next size up plastic pot and wedged in just a few pieces of charcoal between the walls to hold the net pot steady. Placed it in semi-shade outside. The space between containers holds just enough humidity plus air circulation to encourage the re-rooting. The roots have made terrific progress in just a month and made a couple of new leaves, so I feel confident that even some of my healthy plants will be getting a similar treatment depending on the genus.

Good luck~
Maryanne in WMass