Evidence for foliar watering/feeding

[johnblagg]

Originally Posted by annie1931

Hmm. My next comment would be that I have no idea how to extricate Blanche (yes, that's its name) from the holey pot.

There is realy only one way to do that and that is to break the pot carefully and try and get her loose.....My self I would keep doing as you have been unless there was a great need to repot for some reason.You will probably find some roots are actually grown onto the pot and would get dameaged trying to remove them.

[peeweelovesbooks]

I've never met an orchid I can't repot.

The trick is soaking soaking soaking soaking and even if you think you have soaked enough--more soaking.


I last year I removed a renanthera from its container---it was a small 4" vanda basket and the roots had basically become hard and wooden inside the pot. It took about 4 hours of constant soaking and maneuvering the roots, but I managed to do it.

[Tropicgirl]

Originally Posted by peeweelovesbooks

I've never met an orchid I can't repot.

The trick is soaking soaking soaking soaking and even if you think you have soaked enough--more soaking.


I last year I removed a renanthera from its container---it was a small 4" vanda basket and the roots had basically become hard and wooden inside the pot. It took about 4 hours of constant soaking and maneuvering the roots, but I managed to do it.

I have been wondering how I'm going to repot the ones I have in wooden baskets! Thanks for the tip!

[annie1931]

I read another post that said soaking for hours might help, but I think I'll follow your advice and just leave things as is. If the airy roots get too inquisitive, I can tie them back gently so they stay in the vicinity of the table. Thanks.

[johnblagg]

Originally Posted by peeweelovesbooks

I've never met an orchid I can't repot.

The trick is soaking soaking soaking soaking and even if you think you have soaked enough--more soaking.


I last year I removed a renanthera from its container---it was a small 4" vanda basket and the roots had basically become hard and wooden inside the pot. It took about 4 hours of constant soaking and maneuvering the roots, but I managed to do it.

Very nice Tip ....I have heard that soaking would help but was not sure just how effective it would be.....I just wouldnt mess with something that sounds like it is doing so well,Unless it was because not doing so would hurt it more than any damage I might do.

[annie1931]

One to keep in mind - definitely. My biggie is too precious to experiment with, though it may die off from goodness knows what. It's about 5 or 6 years old - and how old it was before I was given it I don't know. It has bloomed every 6 months or so after the last bloom drops. This is the first time there is no new spike growing up as the final blooms wither.

Can I cut off that baby growing a bit away from the main plant?

[Cym Ladye]

Hi Annie,

Do what you will, but after growing Cyms and Phals for over 30 years, my experience is telling me that YOUR plant is telling you it is time to "move me on": abundant roots growing out of the pot because the media has broken down and or there is no more room for them; a keki or small plant starting either at the base of the main plant or on the base of the stem. (you were not clear as to where the "baby" was); and the first time it has no bloom inflorescence. These are the signs of a plant heading down from optimum culture conditions.

I could give you the method for repotting your plant although it would be best to see a picture to confirm my solution, but you seem to have decided to "let it be".

Good Luck,

CL

[johnblagg]

if its a basal keiki its better left alone .....

and if it has bloomed every 6 months for you you have done very very well....I would not start thinking it is declining unless it starts losing leaves....

Does it have a new leaf growing in the crown.Thye do sometimes stop growing from the crown and they do actually sometimes get old and tired ...BUT the basal keiki would replace it if that was true and LOL you have not indicated anything "just my opinion" that says it is having any problems ....areial roots are not a sign of decline as far as I know in any way ....they are a normal part of a orchids growth pattern.

spray a little week fet on all the roots you can once a week and wait on that keiki to get bigger she will start blooming again,I am kind of thinking she has decided to make a keiki and will not spike aging untill its a little bigger.

And shoot we should all get a spike evey time a old spike finishes but that is not how it works for most of us....you are doing a great job!!!!!

Actually I have a question also just to clarify a little........you have had it 4 or 5 years so just when was the last time it was repotted and .....if it has not been repotted in years just what is it growing in for medium......

I dont think anyone has actually mentioned that.......

[annie1931]

I don't know what a basal keiki is! This one is a Phalaenopsis...and it's never been repotted since I got it and took it out of the wet moss pot it came in - I put it into 'orchid potting chips'. The new leaf is from the crown.

I'd like to cut off the baby though - can I do so without hurting the main plant?

[Izzie]

Originally Posted by annie1931

I don't know what a basal keiki is! This one is a Phalaenopsis...and it's never been repotted since I got it and took it out of the wet moss pot it came in - I put it into 'orchid potting chips'. The new leaf is from the crown.

I'd like to cut off the baby though - can I do so without hurting the main plant?

A basal keiki is a "baby" plant that sprouts from the base of the mother orchid- which is what you have.

I agree with the others- it would be best to keep them together, the mother plant will help regulate the moisture and "micro"environment around the keiki- they'll help keep each other happy.