advice-repot Cattleya orchid & Dendrobium orchid

[brit6v]

Hello everyone,
I'm in the process of trying to determine which of my orchids are due for a repot this year. I have one Catt and one Den that I would like your repotting advice on, please.

Both orchids are in 4" pots, medium is mostly hydroton-but a very small amount of bark and charcoal, as well. It has been 2 years since either has been repotted.

The Catt medium seems fairly ok for now, even though the roots have gotten unruly-which is my main concern as well as the fact that I haven't repotted it in 2 yrs.

The Den roots are small and confined to the inside of the pot. A newer growth on the left is beginning to grow small roots and slightly against the pot.

I feel that both would enjoy a fresh medium change, but I don't want to rock the boat.

I would appreciate your advice and comments, as well...
Vicki

[Katherine]

Boy that Catt looks happy! I don't know anything about semi hydro so will leave it to the experts

[Cjcorner]

Dendrobiums like their pots to be a little tight, that one can probably wait. The cattleya on the other hand is beginning to grow on the side and that will make it difficult to repot if you wait too much longer. If it has rather fresh bark you might consider the "lazy girls guide to repotting plants stuck to clay pots". lol Find a nice sidewalk, hold up your cattleya and drop it. Then pick up the pieces, sit it into a larger clay pot and fill empty spots with a little more bark. It may not be the correct thing, but it is a huge time saver and it sounds like the bark should still be okay. After you drop it...you can always look for any bad roots and cut them before putting it in the larger pot. If the potting medium is going bad you can always do a traditional repot instead.