Advice about repotting a Dendrobium

[Acharn]

I've got this plant which was already outgrowing its pot when I got it. The rhizome is not more than an inch above the potting medium. The "potting medium" is a couple of large chunks of coconut husk which the roots have thoroughly grown through. I've grown to hate this stuff, because it's so hard to get off the roots. Unfortunately, it's the most common way for Thais to pot their orchids. Or not even pot them, just tie to a tree and squirt with a hose every day.

One thing that I've learned helps is to soak the coconut husk in water for several hours. Any other suggestions? This one, by the way, is just starting to put out a new pseudo-bulb from the base of the biggest (most recent) stalk. The back bulbs are completely leafless, but apparently have healthy roots, so I'd like to divide it if I can. The plant has very nice greenish yellow flowers.

[Claire25]

Wow, that orchid looks quite a mess! It almost seems like it's trying to leap out of its pot...you definitely need to take care of it soon.

In my opinion, I think you should abandon the thought of trying to pry away all of the coconut husk in which its roots are currently embedded. It has been my experience that doing so will, more often than not, tear off perfectly good roots--even when the coconut husk is thoroughly moist.

From your photo, it is clear that your plant has a wealth of aerial roots, as well as an explosion of roots occurring at the newest pseudobulb. I would suggest that you therefore not worry too much about the roots trapped in the coconut husk--instead, trim the aerial roots back to a length that will be more contain-able within a new pot and cut what you can away from the coconut husk. Then, re-pot it, possibly in a smaller container (to better accommodate the reduced mass of the roots). Try to give it increased humidity and keep it out of intense light until it's had time to re-establish...you may even find that a portion of the rhizome left behind in the old pot (if you decide to simply divide the newer half of the plant from the older part stuck in the pot) will give rise to new growth, too.

By the way, is growing this orchid mounted an option for you? I am not an expert in this area, but from the looks of it your Dendrobium would be happy that way--and it would eliminate this type of potting fiasco in the future.

[Acharn]

Originally Posted by Claire25

Wow, that orchid looks quite a mess! It almost seems like it's trying to leap out of its pot...you definitely need to take care of it soon.

In my opinion, I think you should abandon the thought of trying to pry away all of the coconut husk in which its roots are currently embedded. It has been my experience that doing so will, more often than not, tear off perfectly good roots--even when the coconut husk is thoroughly moist.

That's certainly true. I made the mistake of trying to pry a Cattleya out of the coconut husk and ended up breaking it into three parts, one of which didn't have any roots and is now trying to put out a flower!

From your photo, it is clear that your plant has a wealth of aerial roots, as well as an explosion of roots occurring at the newest pseudobulb. I would suggest that you therefore not worry too much about the roots trapped in the coconut husk--instead, trim the aerial roots back to a length that will be more contain-able within a new pot and cut what you can away from the coconut husk. Then, re-pot it, possibly in a smaller container (to better accommodate the reduced mass of the roots). Try to give it increased humidity and keep it out of intense light until it's had time to re-establish...you may even find that a portion of the rhizome left behind in the old pot (if you decide to simply divide the newer half of the plant from the older part stuck in the pot) will give rise to new growth, too.

That sounds like a plan. Thank you for the advice. I'll do it that way. Don't know why I didn't see that possibility myself.

By the way, is growing this orchid mounted an option for you? I am not an expert in this area, but from the looks of it your Dendrobium would be happy that way--and it would eliminate this type of potting fiasco in the future.

Well, I don't really have room to keep mounted orchids. These are all hanging from the roof of my front porch. I'm just about out of space to hang them from, too. I have to find some way to stop people from giving me more until I can solve my space problem.

[irrka]

i'll take 'em

[Becca]

I hate cutting roots to fit in a pot, but some times you gotta do what you gotta do. I took a den out of the same potting medium.....it destroyed all of the roots and it was a long slow recovery for orchid. Once it was recovered I think I gave it a way, since someone else had given it to me....so I'm not sure if its still alive now or not...lol. I wouldn't recommend removing the roots....I'd find a pot to put it in and fill in with fresh potting medium....but perhaps that is my lazy side coming out...lol. Good luck!

[quiltergal]

I don't recommend cutting roots to fit a certain size pot either. If the root ball is big enough that it won't fit in it's existing pot then it's time to move up a pot size. Remember all of your canes should be within the confines of a pot. Having them hanging over the edge is never a good option. They're going to grow new roots, and those new roots will have nowhere to go. I think it's OK to divide it. Leave at least 3 canes per division. I wouldn't even worry about the piece of coconut for now. Eventually if you keep dividing it you'll be able to toss it! I just divided a big one of mine and I still had to move it up a pot size there were sooo many roots. It's loving the fresh medium and growing like crazy. Good luck!