Needed - repotting/mounting advice

[Sheryl]

Hello! I need some advice on repotting. I have this miltassia that has outgrown its pot. It will begin spiking within the next couple of months. Should I repot it? As you can see new growth is hanging over the sides. The pot is getting heavy!

Second question is for this spotted dendrobium Panduriferum. I received this about a year ago all wrapped in this coconut hair. I can't really see what the roots are doing. It's grown a couple of new healthy canes but no blooms. How should I proceed with this plant? Should I unwrap this hair off of it and mount it?

Thanks in advance for your advice and help!

[Chris in Hamilton]

I'd be dividing the miltassia if it were mine Sheryl. At this point it would be hard to re pot without dire consequences. Lots of traders there! I have a few recent buys on that coconut fiber stuff. Still don't know if I trust it. May even be from the same grower unless a lot are using the green mesh. Have to add, that is one healthy, happy orchid!

[JDT]

I would agree with Chris on the Miltassia, it is not going to be easy but the best way is just go at it with a knife and maybe cut it in quarters or in half. You will get a little damage but they will survive, I would sprinkle the cut ends with cinnamon or soak in a fungicide mix, make sure the knife is sterilized!

The mount if I am right is from a vendor in Malaysia that uses that green wire mesh to wrap most of their orchids in. I had to undo my coconut fiber Bulbophyllum mat I was trying the last year or so this spring as I was having some issues with fungus in the fiber because of my humidity. While doing that I also mounted those that were orchids I had gotten from this vendor. I mounted all that I took out of the coconut fiber! Be very careful removing the fiber as the roots have entangled in the fiber.

[Chris in Hamilton]

By fungus in the fiber do you mean white mold Jack?

[JDT]

By fungus in the fiber do you mean white mold Jack?

I am not sure what all had grown in that fiber, I had white, green, black an other things not sure how to describe. All I know is it had killed 3 bublos that had been mounted on that fiber, fortunately they were pieces of ones that I also had mounted. On some of the vanda plaques that I have used it has the coconut fiber under the plant, but that I have started spraying monthly with fungicide from the back of the mount hoping that will keep those from being damaged. I really think it is more the humidity we get here in Florida for both Sheryl and I that we have to be on the lookout for this kind of problem.

[Sheryl]

Thank you two for your advice as usual. I really appreciate it!