When to repot deciduous orchid?

[PuiPuiMolcar]

My catasetum are now in full bald mode, but should I wait until new growth to repot them? and would they still prefer to be in a more compact pot or can they move to a bigger one? I know that they like to be very moist all the time, but being in the small pot like when I first have them I treat them like mini Vanda where I have to water them almost everyday because they dry up very quickly.

As for dendrobium Aphyllums, they tend to flower after their rest period instead growing new cane right away, I want to repot them right before budding but I'm afraid that
will make them drop bloom. what should I do?

[estación seca]

The Catasetums should be repotted fully dormant, before making new roots. Check out posts here by isurus79 and Roberta.

Dens should be repotted when making new roots. This one will probably be just as or just after flowering. Don't repot too early. It will begin making a shoot first. Wait to see new roots.

[Roberta]

For the Catasetinae, time to pot. You want to get it done before the new roots establish. If the pot is too small, you can certainly go to the next size, And select a medium that will work for you to meet their water needs. I use spaghnum for all but the biggest ones. Hard to re-wet, but once you get it wet (once watering resumes) it holds water well. Don't worry that it is damp when you are potting, it will dry out quickly and the plants won't mind.

[Rothrock42]

I agree with what Roberta said about the catasetum, do it now. I also never understood the desire to have them in those tiny pots -- they are notoriously top-heavy growers and breaking off a blooming spike convinced me that a different way is better.

I pot mine in large 4 to 8 inch clay pots, the shorter versions. This also works with plastic pots - I use 2 to 6 inch azalea pots for the divisions (hence the slightly smaller pot sizes) that I give away to friends or at the society meeting.

With either type of pot, I then put an inch or two of gravel/rock in the bottom before packing the sphagnum on top. This provides a nice weighted base and also requires much less moss that filling a whole pot. I also sprinkle some time release fertilizer granules as I pack the moss. This works well for me and I haven't had one topple over since.

Once watering season commences I do have to water frequently but not daily.

I repot/divide them every other year.

[PuiPuiMolcar]

thank you all for the information, it's all clear to me now. I suppose The Den Aphyllum is the one I have to be careful with.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Rothrock42

I also never understood the desire to have them in those tiny pots -- they are notoriously top-heavy growers and breaking off a blooming spike convinced me that a different way is better.

I think those little pots are just tributes to how fast these grow... When they were potted as new plants (maybe 1 p-bulb) it was reasonable. Then they put out a full size-d p-bulb or two, and bingo, top heavy. Those baby Catasetinae also tend to be root machines. And that in their first season when they are ready to sell. So repotting time is "the soonest opportunity" once they go dormant. I also like clay pots, for the weight, or bulb pans for the larger footprint without too much volume.