Help! White mold in my pot... should I repot?

[TinTinGirl]

I got my first Cattleya two weeks ago and through this time only watered it once over a week ago. This week I took it to work and put in a decorative clay pot with more than 1" gap all around the side and the bottom. The inner pot is sitting on a small paper box (temporary support until I can find a right size brick). I thought that making the pot "floating" inside the decorative pot should provide enough ventilation.

I leave a bamboo stick in the pot for moisture check and last night I saw some white mold on the tip of the stick when I pull it out to check the moisture. Didn't see it when I checked two days ago. I lift up the pot and looked from underneath, through one drain hole I saw some more mold on a piece of the wood bark. I'm sure it's mold not some kind of bug. I think this is a bad sign

I'm guessing that this is due to the lack of or not enough air movement? I wanted to repot since the time I got it (the plant is overflowing the edge of the pot already) but I have read that the good time to repot is usually Spring or when there is new root growth. In this situation, should I repot or what else should I do? If repot, I want to try expanded clay pallets, is this a good choice in my condition? My company just moved to a new building and we are not allowed to bring a personal fan/heater to the new office.

[WhiteRabbit]

I sometimes get mold on my skewers - tho not in the media - I think the bamboo is more prone to mold. But, a Catt type probably doesn't want to be that wet that the skewer is molding. I allow mine to get dry, to just nearly dry before watering.

I too have read the best time to repot is when there is new root growth - many of my plants seem to grow all the time, so that isn't just spring. But I have also repotted when there isn't new root growth (or new growth at all) and haven't had any problems. It's also usually my feeling that it's better to repot than not if you are concerned for the plant.

[rosalie]

I have the same problem as of now. I found mold and what appear to be spores(?) ,yellow and white ,on the wood chips I use as potting medium for my cymbidiums. i will have to repot.
The good thing about cattleyas, at least with my experience, is that they don't mind beong repotted much. i divided mine and all the divisions bloomed immediately.

[TinTinGirl]

Thanks! I'm going to repot today. Found a bag of the expanded clay balls but couldn't find a new pot that is big enough to hold the whole plant in so I will have to divide it at the same time. I hope they will survive!

[Tephrochr]

My Cymbidium is suffering the same kind of white mold you described, but it's less than an inch down into the media - I'm gonna shop for some better media for it and re-pot it on Thursday - all 'cause of your thread, thanks!