Repotting a large Angraeucum (Angraecum Crestwood 'Tomorrow Star')

[Louis_W]

Just remember, if you put it in that pot, it will never come out. The roots will be so intertwined with the nooks and crannies that they wont come out without breaking.

Personally the question on whether or not to repot comes down to the medias level of decay. Its okay that its in fine bark, but if the bark is breaking down and basically rurning to soil then you need to get the plant out and into a new mix. If the bark is still good, then i dont think there is any urgency

[estación seca]

A pot of properly watered sphagnum has lots of air inside. The points of using sphagnum are to permit longer watering intervals and to keep roots continually moist. Using a pot with extra air holes isn't helpful. You don't want the sphagnum to dry faster.

[Roberta]

If it came from Norman's, I am sure it needs repotting.

[HiOrcDen]

Originally Posted by Louis_W

Just remember, if you put it in that pot, it will never come out. The roots will be so intertwined with the nooks and crannies that they wont come out without breaking.

Personally the question on whether or not to repot comes down to the medias level of decay. It's okay that it's in fine bark, but if the bark is breaking down and basically rurning to soil then you need to get the plant out and into a new mix. If the bark is still good, then i dont think there is any urgency

Thanks for this. The medium was small chips, but also broken down!

Originally Posted by estación seca

A pot of properly watered sphagnum has lots of air inside. The points of using sphagnum are to permit longer watering intervals and to keep roots continually moist. Using a pot with extra air holes isn't helpful. You don't want the sphagnum to dry faster.

This makes sense. Though If I am correct, this plant is too big for keeping in moss?

Originally Posted by Roberta

If it came from Norman's, I am sure it needs repotting.

I see! lol That has been my experience in some cases

So I have an update, and it seems to be good news! I took the Orchid out to repot, and I would say 3/4 of the roots were dead! I was mortified. I clipped the dead roots with surgical scissors, and proceeded to attempt to rehabilitate.
I decided to repot the Tomorrow Star into the same sized pot (not sure if 1.5 or 2+ gallons) since I figured the plant's pretty mature and I want to give it the same growing space.
So I also figured since I was putting just a quarter of the surviving roots into the same size pot, that I should use plenty of pumice, maybe 1/3 or more.
Since then, the Orchid has been growing pretty aggressively, putting 2.5 new leaves, and putting out air roots and, it would seem, a flower stalk!
I forget who mentioned about not overwatering, but I did notice at 2 points when I watered 2 days in a row, the plant got a black spot on a lower leaf. But if they are spreading, it is very slowly, and the new growth is robust. No leaves have been lost since. So for now every 2 days seems to work well.
Well, I feel like this is some dark miracle of Orchid Culture! lol But of course I could not have done it without you guys...
!!!
p.s... if anyone has suggestions for future such instances, that might produce even better results, I'm all ears (or eyes)

[HiOrcDen]

I'm 'bumping' this... if that's okay??

[Roberta]

Sure, OK to bump. I also put the correct name in the Thread title. This one is 3/4 Angcm. sesquipedale, which is a warm grower, But that 1/4 Angcm. eburneum will give some cold tolerance. Where are you growing it, inside or out? If you're near the coast it could grow outside fine, otherwise would want a bit of protection in winter.

It sounds to me that it is responding well to your care, so whatever you're doing, keep on doing it. These are rather slow growers, so be patient.

[HiOrcDen]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Sure, OK to bump. I also put the correct name in the Thread title. This one is 3/4 Angcm. sesquipedale, which is a warm grower, But that 1/4 Angcm. eburneum will give some cold tolerance. Where are you growing it, inside or out? If you're near the coast it could grow outside fine, otherwise would want a bit of protection in winter.

It sounds to me that it is responding well to your care, so whatever you're doing, keep on doing it. These are rather slow growers, so be patient.

Thank you! So what correction did you make? I forget what I posted lol I think just Angraecum? Should I be more specific in the future?

Well this Orchid did just fine out, in a very harsh and torrential winter, as I know you well know! Well not perfectly, the plant survived without trouble, but the storms killed the sprouting flowers when they came.

Thanks, I was just going on instinct! Is there anything else you would have done to rescue the plant? Though I'm sure you do not have as much trouble with your Orchids, not making the rookie mistakes I do! X3

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by HiOrcDen

Thank you! So what correction did you make? I forget what I posted lol I think just Angraecum? Should I be more specific in the future?

Well this Orchid did just fine out, in a very harsh and torrential winter, as I know you well know! Well not perfectly, the plant survived without trouble, but the storms killed the sprouting flowers when they came.

Thanks, I was just going on instinct! Is there anything else you would have done to rescue the plant? Though I'm sure you do not have as much trouble with your Orchids, not making the rookie mistakes I do! X3

Originally, it said "Angraecum (Tomorrow Star)" In the middle of the first page it was identified as Veitchii x sesquipedale but without the name of the cross (Crestwood). ('Tomorrow Star' is a cultivar, not the name of the grex)

Not making rookie mistakes? I have made many, many rookie and not-so-rookie mistakes over the years, hopefully have learned from some of them. (When people say that an expert is someone who has killed 1000 orchids, the number is far too low. I'm far from an expert, and have lost a much higher number than that! But if you don't try you don't learn) Your instincts were very good, and the plant is rewarding you. You have done well!

I grow Angcm. sesquipedale mostly outside. Since it tends to spike around mid- December, it's a good excuse to bring it inside for a month or two. The odds of getting flowers are much improved. Once it has bloomed, out it goes. The plant does fine with the cold (even the species... the hybrid with eburneum does even better) but it's rough on the developing flowers so a little protection until it blooms can help.