Neglected orchid haul- repotting advice needed

[Jodsbods19]

So I inherited these from my Hubby’s grandma. All in various stages of neglect. Trying to figure out how to repot/house/care for them all.

Photo 1 is the haul: 30 or so orchids!

Photo 2, I would love some help with an ID, the leaves are stiff like a Vanda, but not as thick as the ones on my tolumnia.

Photos 3 and 4, I am wondering if maybe these buds are going to become flowers?

But my biggest issue is repotting- none of them are in good media, some are in soil, others very broken down bark. The Cattleyas in particular are a worry, as even though several have started to develop new growths (the biggest would be about 1cm long), I can see that all of the newest roots have been munched off by snails. I’m in Australia, near Sydney, we are nearing the end of winter, so not sure if it’s a good time to repot, but I don’t want the new growths to have their roots munched! When would be the best time to repot (in an ideal scenario), and when should I repot to protect the new roots?

Also, one of the Cattleyas has grown so that there is no space for it to grow a new shoot, as the wall of the pot is right up against the newest pseudobulbs.

Any help would be appreciated!

[Ray]

That's quite an assortment!

Photo 2 might be a an Australian cymbidium.

The ideal time to repot orchid is just as new roots are emerging from the base of the plant, but if the potting medium is as bad as you have related, you may not have the luxury to wait.

Pick a plant and submerge the pot and medium for 30 minutes or so to saturate everything, then give the pot a good whack to break it. After removing the pot, extract the medium from the root mass, then repot.

You're likely to do some root damage, but that's a fact of life, so be careful, but don't fret either.

[Roberta]

Photo #3 looks like a nobile-type dendrobium. At any rate, one of the deciduous types, just coming out of dormancy. A good time to repot, handle carefully, you have buds!

I think that with spring approaching, this may actually be a very good time to repot. but agree with Ray, even it it isn't ideal time, it needs to be done right away.

[ArronOB]

Agree with the others. Repotting out of schedule will do less damage then leaving an orchid in broken down mix.

Anyway, it’s not far away from prime repotting time. I live on the Central Coast and have about 50-60 cattleya growing, and I’ve just had a look at them. 50% are ready for repotting now so after next weeks forecast cold weather that’s what I’ll be doing. The other 50% look like more likely in September.

About the plant growing hard up against the edge of the pot. This doesn’t bother them - the new growth will muscle its way in somehow.

Ray has suggested the mystery plant is an Aussie cymbidium - good call - look up C. canaliculatum.

Cheers
Arron

[Jodsbods19]

Thanks all. I will repot them starting with the sickest.

AaronOB, I just moved to the central coast, so probably similar growing conditions. What media do you use for your Cattleyas?

Roberta, the buds on the Dendrobiums are flower buds? These are my first soft cane dens.

Thanks for the repotting advice Ray, I’ll get started next week, once the pots and media I’ve ordered arrive (various sizes of orchiata bark etc)

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Jodsbods19

Roberta, the buds on the Dendrobiums are flower buds? These are my first soft cane dens.

It sure looks like it - and the timing is right, they bloom on old canes as they are coming out of winter dormancy, they may start new growth at the same time, or very shortly thereafter. (Hint, never cut old canes until the are really shriveled, dry and brown and definitely permanently dead. They can bloom for several years on those leafless canes, even on some that don't look great)

[ArronOB]

I use ordinary horticultural bark (as bought at Coles) aged, soaked and sieved for size.

If the plant is tending to dehydrate a bit, I add a few strands of sphagnum moss.