Dendrobium question

[tim abbott]

The experts on this forum have helped me in the past. I live 2 blocks from the beach in Cape Canaveral, Fl. I keep my few orchids outside under a ficus I have a dendrobium very healthy, but it has outgrown its pot.Should divide it or just put it in a bigger pot?

[estación seca]

You have space. The bigger the plant, the better the show. I would not divide it.

I would use a pot about 2-3 times that size when you repot. Don't disturb the root ball any more than necessary. Ease it out of that pot, drop it into a larger pot, and backfill with new medium. If it doesn't come out easily, use a butter knife to pry roots off the insides of the old pot.

[tim abbott]

Thank you estacion seca.

Tim Abbott

[Paphluvr]

Bigger pot! Possibly add some rocks in bottom for extra weight and stability.

[tim abbott]

Thanks paphluvr, thats a good idea, it is getting top heavy.

Tim Abbott

[Kittyfrex]

Also get some stakes. Dendrobiums can be top heavy, making repotting somewhat annoying. If it wobbles too much, stake it up until the roots do their thing, as i had a large bee knocked mine out after a repot, and it dropped about 2 m down and broke all but one growth. Better be safe.

P.s. The pot had a rock and it remained where it was; it was just the orchid that took flight.

[tim abbott]

Thank you Kittyfrex, it will most likely need support, the plant has taken off in the last couple of years & has at least tripled in size.

Tim Abbott