Keeping Nobiles rootbound?

[missann]

Ok, so I bought this great d. nobile from maui orchids for 8 bux, and I love love love it. I know that nobiles like to be root bound, but it came in a 3.5 inch pot, and it is top heavy, so I want to put it in a bigger pot. The pot is big enough that I can stick my index finger in on each side. I am afraid that is going to be too big though, and that it won't bloom if I have it potted in there.

Also, there are all these crazy roots that have started growing outside of the pot, and I would like to have them be inside of the new pot.

What to do? I have been thinking of wrapping the existing rootball in plastic (on the sides only, not the top or bottom) to simulate it being in it's former small pot. Then, I would like to place the whole thing in the larger pot and put potting media around the new roots, so they are nice and safe in the pot. Then, after it blooms in the spring, I can give it a proper repotting with new media etc. One more thing, in the pics of the plant with my finger in there, the root ball is moved all the way over into the corner of the pot, not sitting evenly in the middle, so it looks like I have a lot of room between the root ball and the pot.

I don't know how the orchid can tell if it's roots are in a little container, or in a pot with a lot of room around them. Or does it just mean to leave the tight rootball intact and not tease it out? I just keep reading to "not put it in a pot too big, or it won't flower.'

It is Den. King's Jewel "pink crystal"

[Sandy4453]

I would strongly advise against trying to clean away and remove the old medium that's wrapped inbetween all these roots. You run the risk of causing a major setback for the plant, otherwise. I would just take the entire plant and move it into a larger pot and fill it with more bark. The best time to do a re-pot on Dends is usually after blooming, when new growth begins, followed by new roots which will eventually help stabilize the plant in it's new surroundings. Your plant will eventually stabilize with new roots adhering to the new bark and spreading out.

Definitely don't wrap the sides in plastic, you'll cook the roots. You want air flow inbetween all those roots provided with lots of humidity.

Here's a pic of my antelope Dend. that looked similar to yours that I repotted. I just placed the entire plant into a larger pot. It was impossible to remove all of the original pot it was in. This was from last December. It grew 3 canes since, now over 2 ft and, 2 more new canes now growing.

Just pot the entire plant into a bigger pot. Don't fertilize until you start seeing new growth. Nobiles need dry, winter rests.

Happy growing!

Pic. #1 - new pot
Pic. #2 - before re-pot

[maitaman]

Nobile type dendrobes will do well mounted or rootbound. I advise against a pot too large. I always just let them grow around the hanging pot. They are beautiful when there is a large round ball of a plant in full bloom!

[bonsai1504]

i'd put it into a basket and just let it go where it wants.

[Lagoon]

I can't say I agree with the theory of keeping dens potbound for them to be successful at blooming. I've had dens overpotted and they bloomed just fine for me.
I think you should repot and remove all the old media from all the nooks. Old media will break down and could cause rot. It might set the plant back but then there's rot

Good luck with all those roots

[Royal]

The plant can't tell how big the pot is, just if the medium dries out evenly. It's just that they don't mind being rootbound, and try to be carefull not to way overpot. That one looks fine. Good luck!

[Jerry Delaney]

I think I might use a little of several of the posts here Missann. As Sandy said, nobile Dens like a Dry winter rest. I don't know if you have watered or fertilized the plant since you received it but the next time you need to water it, use plain water only. NO fertilizer!! Repeat one time when it needs watering again. Then place the plant in a cool place. Then, if you can, forget about it until next spring. It will most likely have lost all of it's leaves but don't worry about that - its normal. Then, in the spring when you see new growths starting at the base of the plant, repot it. By this time, the plant may already be in flower or well on it's way. I agree with Gloria in that these things produce such a root mass that overpotting it a little probably won't hurt. I don't think you will have too great a risk of rot since you will not be watering the plant this winter. Some of the newer hybrids don't need the cool down to bloom, but I am not sure if this is one of them or not. The cool won't hurt it. Oh, by the way, if you give nobile Dens fertilizer and lots of water during the winter, all those little nubbins you get so excited about turn out to be kikis instead of blooms!!! Been there, done that!!