Repotting Madness!

[0rch1dman]

I have a need to repot my plants which I know is not necessarily good. However, I am finding that the condition of the roots of some of the plants that I am receiving (and from reputable sellers) is not always the best. So after I killed a Phal, which I think came ready to die, I got a little OCD!

Is there a rule of thumb for the repotting of genera/alliances? How much repotting is too much??? Thanks for your help.

[clintdawley]

When you receive a plant, you can repot it. Most growers do because you never know where a surprise is lurking. (That is, unless you buy a plant that is dormant.)

No general rule of repotting...after you repot you initial purchase, it is usually 1-2 years before you need to do it again.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

I usually try to repot every new orchid I get. I like to put plants into the mix that I am used to watering so nothing drowns or dries-up. Some plants seem to do better after repotting as well - putting on new growth and sometimes blooms.

Can you repot too much? Everything n excess is usually not good. Try to stay on a schedule and your orchids will be happy.

Cheers,
BD

[wetfeet101b]

Just like Bruce, I try to repot any new acquisitions so that they are in a container and potting mix that is similar to the rest of the collection - or at least similar to a group that it belongs to (catts in baskets with medium bark, oncidiums in plastic post with small bark, etc)
This way, there is no "odd plant out" when it comes to watering and feeding schedules.

However, there are exceptions. If I receive a plant and it appears to be happy and in active growth, then I leave it alone and wait for the next dormant period.

If I receive a plant from a vendor and it is in a sorry state, I let let the vendor know and give them a chance to rectify the situation. Otherwise, the vendor disappears from my business list.

[Gin]

I repot all new ones learned the hard way . Ordered A Cattleya it arrived in bud I waited until it bloomed, blooms did not last long . I unpotted it , the base of the plant was cooked / brown.. no live eyes at all . Never know what is lurking under the mix .. Gin

[Cjcorner]

And there is always the little plug of stuff way up in the root ball growing rot or hiding bugs....I always repot, and use all new stuff from pots to potting materials. Its also good to dip them to kill hiding bugs and fungus'.
Connie

[sandy]

I have a need to repot my plants which I know is not necessarily good. However, I am finding that the condition of the roots of some of the plants that I am receiving (and from reputable sellers) is not always the best. So after I killed a Phal, which I think came ready to die, I got a little OCD!

Is there a rule of thumb for the repotting of genera/alliances? How much repotting is too much??? Thanks for your help.

It really all depends on what kind and what you're growing them in Orch1dman.

Bark medium usually is good for 2 years. After that, it starts breaking down, getting spongy, retaining too much water and is when you'll need to replace it, hence, re-pot.

Paphs. actually do better when you do re-pot and usually, a lot of new growth with occur at that time. I always give them a good cleaning and change the medium after every flowering and, the same with Phals, or sooner. They also seem to respond favorably to a re-pot about every 6 months and not 2 years (for me) as I've always read.

Coelogyne on the otherhand, hate re-pots, hate any disturbance of any kind and are known to sulk up to a couple of years if they've been messed with.

It all depends on what, in what, how and where you're growing them. Oh, and not to add any confusion to this but it also depends on where the plants are in their growing cycles, ie., repotting Dends while they're growing is typically the best time vs. when they're dormant.

[Meg25]

One great thing about mounted plants is this isn't really necessary- I am trying to buy more and more mounted these days. Once I started repotting an orchid that I had just got in trade and when I got the potting mix out there was tidal wave/explosion of ants all over me and our basement. Now I do it outside!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

One great thing about mounted plants is this isn't really necessary- I am trying to buy more and more mounted these days. Once I started repotting an orchid that I had just got in trade and when I got the potting mix out there was tidal wave/explosion of ants all over me and our basement. Now I do it outside!

Another good reason to repot new arrivals!

Cheers,
BD