What to do with a super pot bound cattleya

[f00bar]

I have an interesting question for you. I recently purchased a nice, healthy Cattleya orchid. However upon getting it delivered to me, I saw that it was INCREDIBLY pot-bound. The rootmass, while healthy was essentially one, big fused mass. Teasing the roots apart was essentially impossible since they had long since taken the shape of the pot. The Sphagnum material that the plant was potted in, was completely ensconced in the rootball and held tightly within. I have a couple of quick questions for you:

1. Is this normal/acceptable ? The grower insists that this is totally normal and that this is how they grow them.

2. How would one ever repot such a plant ? The grower says that they just put some more moss around the pot-shaped ;-) rootmass and go for it when the time comes. I worry that this would inevitably lead to rot (there would be old sphagnum trapped inside the rootball...). Remember that teasing the roots apart doesn't seem possible at all.


I enclose a picture for you to see what I speak of. The roots were completely tightly bound and would not move even after a light soak.

Any sage advice appreciated.

[WhiteRabbit]

Soak and soak and soak - then use a chopstick or skewer to gently poke inside the mass and wiggle it around to loosen stuff. I have also found the "jet" setting on the hose sprayer to be quite helpful. Soak more if necessary, and repeat. It may take a bit of time to get started, but once you get a bit loosened it will go easier. And I see lots of areas of sphag between the roots - start there loosening and picking out the moss.
And I'm sure lots of growers (commercial) do grow this way - less time consuming for repotting. However to them it's a profitability issue - these are cash crops.

[trdyl]

Welcome to OB!

While it may look like a daunting task, this one is not so bad. I would divide it into two plants of somewhat equal size. Don't be afraid of breaking roots. I usually trim the roots back to get them into there new pots. When choosing a pot I generally allow enough room for 2 years growth and seat the oldest growth next to the rim of the pot.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by trdyl

Welcome to OB!

While it may look like a daunting task, this one is not so bad. I would divide it into two plants of somewhat equal size. Don't be afraid of breaking roots. I usually trim the roots back to get them into there new pots. When choosing a pot I generally allow enough room for 2 years growth and seat the oldest growth next to the rim of the pot.

I'm curious - why do you advise dividing this plant? I doesn't look very large to me - but I may be wrong ...

[trdyl]

Form the way it is growing it does not seen to be branching. A larger pot just to accommodate the rhyzome as is I think would lead to problems with the medium not drying out fast enough.

[johnblagg]

Since new roots will emerge from new Psudo bulbs above the old mass they will be able to grow into new medium after you loosen up the roots some ....as WhiteRabbit suggests they will loosen up more with a better soak and then can be picked apart a little more.I would wait untill I saw new roots emerging before I did this though if it was me.asWhat is this orchids name and type ?this is very important also in regards to when you disturb it by doing anything.I cant be sure from the picture but knowning if it is a bifoliate or a unifoliate is a very important factor in wheather it is safe to do it now or you need to wait.

[peeweelovesbooks]

1) this is really not that bad---I've unpotted worse and have seen worse. You have to soak the root mass extensively. Perhaps I would soak in a diluted fertilizer solution.

2) I would remove all the present media. If you leave it, it's going to cause problems in the long run, especially if it's moss. You are going to end up with a rotted center and healthy roots growing around it. If you pot up enough times without cleaning out the old moss you probably will end up with a dead plant.

3) As John noted, under perfect conditions, I would wait to see new growths. However, in your case, I would repot immediately.

I really can't believe the grower told you to just put more moss around the root ball.

4) I would definitely NOT divide it. Why not grow it into a specimen sized plant?

[f00bar]

This is an Epc Siam Jade. And yes, I cannot believe that the grower told me to keep putting moss around the rootball ! I feel that would a quick route to demise as you folks have said. The thing I have learned (thanks to your wisdom) is that I have to go at this rootball, one way or another. Multiple soak time and perhaps some root loss is in my immediate future but better that than a disastrous rot.

[Autumn Child]

Originally Posted by johnblagg

Since new roots will emerge from new Psudo bulbs above the old mass they will be able to grow into new medium after you loosen up the roots some ....as WhiteRabbit suggests they will loosen up more with a better soak and then can be picked apart a little more.I would wait untill I saw new roots emerging before I did this though if it was me.asWhat is this orchids name and type ?this is very important also in regards to when you disturb it by doing anything.I cant be sure from the picture but knowning if it is a bifoliate or a unifoliate is a very important factor in wheather it is safe to do it now or you need to wait.

John, why is it important to know if it is bifoliate or unifoliate? I am also currently trying to repot my catts (Rlc. Triumphal Coronation and c.walkeriana coerulea 'manhatan blue') that are both unifoliate. Would the species of catt matters? Please advice.

[f00bar]

Originally Posted by peeweelovesbooks

1) this is really not that bad---I've unpotted worse and have seen worse. You have to soak the root mass extensively. Perhaps I would soak in a diluted fertilizer solution.

2) I would remove all the present media. If you leave it, it's going to cause problems in the long run, especially if it's moss. You are going to end up with a rotted center and healthy roots growing around it. If you pot up enough times without cleaning out the old moss you probably will end up with a dead plant.

3) As John noted, under perfect conditions, I would wait to see new growths. However, in your case, I would repot immediately.

I really can't believe the grower told you to just put more moss around the root ball.

4) I would definitely NOT divide it. Why not grow it into a specimen sized plant?

BTW- I did try and soak it once but believe me that moss was WEDGED in there. I had to pick, pick, pick to even get a fingernail sized amount out. Guess I gotta soak much more to loosen this puppy!