Dendrobium Orchid repotting

First off thanks for all the advice given about my Den. I decided to move ahead and repot. When I removed the Orchid from the pot its roots were growing though out a fiberous plug. Best way I can describe it. I soaked this material for 20 min. to soften it so I could gently remove the roots from it. Well the stuff acted like a sponge absorbing water but not becoming soft so as to pull it apart very successfully. I did get a section with no roots growing throughout it off, but when I got to the part where the roots had honey combed through it was unsuccessful. I tried to carefully remove one root section from it, the root had growing down through the material. Unfortunately in the middle the outer covering of the root came off leaving a string attachment behind. I stopped at this point and now need to know how to proceed. My new growth that was happy before looks awful now. Help! Have I damaged my orchid badly? What do I do now? I took some new Orchid chips and placed them in the void I had cleared successfully, put the plant back into the old pot and will wait to hear how badly I have damaged my poor orchid.

Judy

Judy, breaking of a few roots should not be a problem, I know it feels awful but its no big deal for the plants (at least for the ones with pseudobulbs). But if the new growth has immediately started showing signs of distress, may be you have hurt the plant bad. Posting pictures will surely help in diagnostics.

Getting the original plug out of the roots is a good practise as you learned that rockwool absorbs and holds water that would eventually rot the roots. After soaking, I rub the roots/plug gently between my fingers to get most of it off. Maybe someone else has a better way to remove it without damaging roots?

Thanks for the name of the stuff the roots are all intwined in. I think for now I will leave the orchid sit and recover from my first attempt to free the roots. In a week or two will try again.

Judy

Good luck, Judy.

Cheers,
BD