should I repot my catt???

[lumpy01]

So I got my new Cattleya via mail order since I think I may have killed my previous one and I was wondering if I should repot it. It has a few buds that are about to bloom and I'm not sure if I should wait until it's done flowering. Any suggestions???

[hollylee]

i'm not sure about catts, but i repot everything, in bloom or not, when i bring them home. You never know whats hiding in the mix. I've not lost blooms or buds, post repot yet.

[Faan]

You have to decide on why you want to repot. When the reason is because you are afraid of what is hiding inside the pot, then buy in the first instance from a reputable grower where the chances of enemies in the pot are slim.
Repot when the growing medium is not in good condition anymore.
Repot or pot on when the plant is growing out of it's pot. Do not divide as a large plant can give a much nicer display than 2 smaller plants with one or two blooms.
The best time to repot is when you see new roots starting to develop. Just take care not to damage the new roots.

[masda]

Wait until it has ended the flower cycle,then repot if you need to, repotting for the sake of repotting is a waste of time also it is very stressful on the plant which is useing all its energy to flower and has no reserves to take the shock of repotting. If you think it might be harbouring some pests, sumerge the pot into a solution of insectcide and water,any thing in the mix will soon die.

[lumpy01]

Originally Posted by Faan

You have to decide on why you want to repot. When the reason is because you are afraid of what is hiding inside the pot, then buy in the first instance from a reputable grower where the chances of enemies in the pot are slim.
Repot when the growing medium is not in good condition anymore.
Repot or pot on when the plant is growing out of it's pot. Do not divide as a large plant can give a much nicer display than 2 smaller plants with one or two blooms.
The best time to repot is when you see new roots starting to develop. Just take care not to damage the new roots.

Thanks for your input. I ordered this plant from the same place my mom gets hers and over the years, she has repotted all her new ones whether they have flowers or not and they all did well...but she's good like that and now has well over 50 plants with a third of them divided over and over from one single plant....I want to get that good one day!

[lumpy01]

Originally Posted by masda

Wait until it has ended the flower cycle,then repot if you need to, repotting for the sake of repotting is a waste of time also it is very stressful on the plant which is useing all its energy to flower and has no reserves to take the shock of repotting. If you think it might be harbouring some pests, sumerge the pot into a solution of insectcide and water,any thing in the mix will soon die.

Yay, thank you so much for your advice. This is the exact answer I was looking for!! Now do I submerge once only or do I need additional treatments?

[masda]

Once should be enough, but another baptism in 10 days time wouldn't hurt just to kill off any eggs that may have been left in the mix.