NBS Cattleya trianae in need of repotting

[Masaccio]

My NBS trianae (not ever divided since small seedling stage) is on the verge of outgrowning a 6" round plastic basket, which is covered with roots weaving in and out of the sides and bottom. I expect the next growth to bloom.

(It's growing in my house at a window in dry conditions, supplemental LED lighting)

I had thought of the possibility of painstakingly cutting away the plastic basket, dividing the plant before putting it in a teak basket. Disturbing the plant this much when I need the next growth to be full-force seems ill-advised though.

The only other choice for repotting seems to be plopping the whole thing in a larger teak basket for now. The concern would be the bark breaking down that it's in, but with the quick wet-dry of bark in baskets, this doesn't seem to be happening. It's been in its plastic basket for a couple of years.

Or, I could just leave it where it is, and let the new growth be out in space. I don't like that idea because it would be a serious challenge to keep the new growth and roots hydrated. (I will say, though, that this plant has shown remarkable tolerance for dry conditions. I saturate it every other day (often missing a day) and it seems perfectly happy.)

Anyway, is the potting-on idea the best way to go, given the circumstances?

Thanks so much!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

My NBS trianae (not ever divided since small seedling stage) is on the verge of outgrowning a 6" round plastic basket, which is covered with roots weaving in and out of the sides and bottom. I expect the next growth to bloom.

(It's growing in my house at a window in dry conditions, supplemental LED lighting)

I had thought of the possibility of painstakingly cutting away the plastic basket, dividing the plant before putting it in a teak basket. Disturbing the plant this much when I need the next growth to be full-force seems ill-advised though.

The only other choice for repotting seems to be plopping the whole thing in a larger teak basket for now. The concern would be the bark breaking down that it's in, but with the quick wet-dry of bark in baskets, this doesn't seem to be happening. It's been in its plastic basket for a couple of years.

Or, I could just leave it where it is, and let the new growth be out in space. I don't like that idea because it would be a serious challenge to keep the new growth and roots hydrated. (I will say, though, that this plant has shown remarkable tolerance for dry conditions. I saturate it every other day (often missing a day) and it seems perfectly happy.)

Anyway, is the potting-on idea the best way to go, given the circumstances?

Thanks so much!

Would love a photo to see what you describe. Orchids are fairly resilient, so unless in bud, I bet you could do a repot with too much worry.

cheers,
BD

[raybark]

Yeah, a photo would be a big help, but based only upon your description, I’d follow your second option and just plop it into a bigger basket, surrounding the current one and roots with more bark.

[Masaccio]

Thanks for the responses. Here is a photo of the Trianae. Surprised to see that the current growth is sending up a little bud.

[raybark]

If you can extract the pot without doing undue damage to the roots, that would be a better way to deal with it, but as it'll be in a basket, it'll dry out periodically, so concern over the decomposition of the old bark is less of an issue.

[Masaccio]

Thanks. I thought I'd just devote a morning to gradually cutting away the basket (keeping the roots soaked and soft). However, the real problem is that watering it is a pain. Since it's inside the house, I've been holding it over the tub and using a hand-sprayer every other day to soak the roots, and then watering the pot. Had a (minor) brain-storm this morning. I can get one of those sticky hooks and mount it on the ceiling of the shower, hang the plant at the appropriate level with a handly length of chain, and use one of those large garden pump sprayers on it (of which I have several). That will be easy enough to do every day. The roots don't seem to mind being dry for a couple of days, so this kind of drench every day should be magic, and comparatively easy. When it's really outgrown the space, the pseudobulbs I want to keep might be mostly outside the pot anyway. Here's a pic of the little bud. It was a shocker. I hope it develops!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

The bud looks great. I bet it will keep growing!!

Cheers,
BD

[Arne]

I would put the whole plant (without removing the old basket) in another pot or basket and then fill the spaces with bark-perlite mix. I would go for perlite #4 and medium or large bark.
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