Repotting Question - Orchid Board

ces797 · #1 03-08-2010, 12:34 AM

Hello

I have a question on repotting. I've only repotted a Phal at this point and I now have some Cattleya's and Oncidium's that I have recently acquired that are in need of repotting that I plan on doing later this spring. My question is with these two types of orchids and their "pseudobulbs"
If I repot the Catt's and Onc's this spring/summer will that inhibit the blooming for next Fall? (This is assuming of course the plants are healthy at time of repotting and atleast four PB's are left) I read somewhere that when you repot it may skip a year of blooming as it get's situationed into it's new home. I'm hoping that's not true and wondered if anyone had any past experience in this?

Thanks

orchidsamore · #2 03-08-2010, 08:21 AM

re-potting a cat or Onc should not delay flowering the following season. Actually re-potting often encourages flowering.

damaged roots will often cause lack of flowering. since damaged roots often start with bad decomposing medium, a change of medium often encourages new flowers.

Commercially we often re-pot after flowering and also use it as a time to divide large plants into smaller divisions. We would not do it if we thought it would be 2 years before it would be sell-able again.

Just do not over-pot. Put it in the smallest pot into which it will fit with room for 1-2 years growth (usually 1/2 inch)

ces797 · #3 03-08-2010, 09:30 AM

Excellent News!
Thanks Jerry

ces797 · #4 03-08-2010, 11:28 AM

Is this the same for dividing?
One of my Onc's (sharry baby) I just got after an orchid show and it's very healthy with plump PB's but it's overgrown it's pot so much I can't even see the medium anymore. Is dividing similar to repotting in that I won't miss a season of flowering?

trdyl · #5 03-08-2010, 03:53 PM

Yes. Unless one of your divisions only contains backbulbs and no front leads. In this case, it could take over a year for it to rebloom.

ces797 · #6 03-08-2010, 04:06 PM

Ahhh
Thanks so much
I shall go forth with dividing/repotting

jeffg · #7 03-08-2010, 10:17 PM

Even though I've re-potted many plants, I still get a bit squeamish with Catts because they have such a timing issue with new roots. I just re-watched the potting video's on AOS web site and found them, again, helpful. I would recommend them as a good source for "how to".