multiple orchids, shared pot, repotting

[mrsjahn]

Hello, I'm in need of some guidance. I have nearly 6 to 7 different types of orchids in one very large pot. For the last 3 years they have been growing beautifully. All healthy and nearly constantly in bloom. I recently acquired a few new orchid plants that I would like to add in as I'm a bit tight on space. The dilemma would be if it is unwise to have so many orchids all together. Should I be separating them at this point? Can I still keep some together for space purposes?

Thank you!
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[catttan]

Are they all from the same genus ?Your orchids seem to be happy growing together. I have a friend who grows 2 or 3 different dendrobiums in the same pot and provide quite a show when they bloom together. In the wild it is not uncommon to see orchids from several genera growing on the same branch of a tree.

[raybark]

I highly recommend keeping them in separate pots. When combined, if one gets some sort of disease, they all get it.

If you just plain like seeing them together, put the indiviudal pots together in a basket or some other container, and cover the pots with Spanish moss or something.

No matter what, when watering, avoid splashing one to another, as that's a perfect way of sharing pathogens.

[zainal abidin]

I always noticed when 2 different species or more in one big pot at one point competition for foot, light space for roots will occur those relatively very weak usually will be stunted.

[mrsjahn]

This is a photo of some of my orchids. Sorry, I'm not very familiar with the different species. As I said, they're all growing in one big pot. I would say about half of them are still in their own little pots, that I just fit in and covered with orchid bark to keep them snugged. Some are growing quite large (about 3 extra bulbs?), and I feel there's something I must do - but I'm not sure of what!
At the moment, they have all finished flowering except for one that's budding and has a few flowers already. Then the extra new orchids I have are also partially flowered.

I really don't want to end up hurting my orchids! I would really just like to know when and how I should repot them, and if splitting them is necessary? The basic do's and don'ts I suppose...

[Brutal_Dreamer]

It looks like you have three dendrobiums and a couple of oncidiums. Oncidiums will grow much faster than dendrobiums (at least for me.) I recommend potting those oncidium orchids in their own individual pots. (Really all of these would most likely do better in individual pots. Just group then in a basket for show and to keep humidity up, but grow them in individual containers as Ray suggests above.)

cheers,
BD