Preparing to repot new 'cambria's - Orchid Board

Rowangreen · #1 10-11-2011, 09:07 AM

Already posted a bit about my orchids here

Thought I know it's not the ideal time of year, I feel I need to get these repotted. All are looking a bit shrivelled on the p.bulbs, two are loose in their pots, and one that was knocked out by my cats turned out to have a tight little mass of roots and moss with few (not too healthy looking) roots coming out into the rest of the pot (bark). I've not had much sucess with orchids in the past, so I don't rate my chances of getting them through the winter if I don't sort out the potting medium. I believe having balls of moss in the middle is bad news as it can lead to root rot due to uneven moisture levels?

I'm trying to get some pictures sorted...

I already have some John Innes orchid compost soaking (mix of bark and peat - what I could get!). I'm off to get some hydrogen peroxide to give the plants a clean. I also have some rooting powder which I thought I'd try diluted with alcohol or putting on just briefly if the roots turn out to be in bad nick (not otherwise).

The plants are all at the end of flowering: finished, couple of flowers, all starting to wither respectively, with the plant in worst condition/got knocked over being the one still with flowers. Guess I'll be cutting the spike off...

I also have some phals which I think have some issues.... but maybe that should be another post!

Ray · #2 10-11-2011, 10:38 AM

Don't use the rooting powder on orchids! They tend to be way too highly concentrated, and kill the roots instead of the desired stimulation. I don't know what particular stuff you have, but the powders sold in the US are not soluble in water or alcohol, anyway.

I think you are right about repotting them, if the medium is an issue. I will suggest though, that you invest in a seedling heat mat, and set the pots directly on it after repotting. The warmth, concentrated on the root zone, will stimulate and accelerate their growth.

camille1585 · #3 10-11-2011, 11:41 AM

The sphag ball you found in the middle of the rootball is standard practice for nearly all Oncidum alliance plants sold in Europe. It generally a good idea to repot as soon as you buy one of those plants, it avoids a lot of problems down the road.

Seedling heat mats are very good for encouraging root growth, and you could also try watering with some KLN added to it (rooting hormone better suited to orchids) that I know you can buy in the UK via orchidaccessories.co.uk.

Rowangreen · #4 10-11-2011, 02:52 PM

No powder then *G* I'd heard a few different opinions, which was why I'd decided only if things were bad and only diluted/briefly, but sounds like a little gentle heat is a better option.

How warm are the heating pads? I'm not going to be able to get one imediately, if at all, so I'm wondering if I could rig something temporary (or even use a hot water bottle!)

I've got some 3% hydrogen peroxide, but it says it also contains phosphoric acid and phenacetin. Anyone know if they are OK?

Ray · #5 10-11-2011, 04:34 PM

Most seedling heat mats increase the root zone temperature by about 10°-15°F over ambient

Can't help with the hydrogen peroxide. Most of it in the US is stabilized with tin chloride.

Rowangreen · #6 10-11-2011, 05:51 PM

I guess I might hope the roots are ok without the hydroxide! Might risk it if they look bad...

Skirril · #7 10-11-2011, 10:12 PM

Hi there, I don't have a lot of experience myself yet, but I will say that now I always repot immediately after buying, even if the plant is in bloom. I have found that it hasn't harmed the blooming of the plants much (except perhaps for a tiny miniature I just repotted), and you just can't know what's hiding if you don't get a good look.

The moss balls in the roots are really bad and all the roots right around there will be most likely dead, but so far the plants I got which had moss balls are doing ok (although one lost pretty much all it's roots, but seems to be slowly recovering!).

I don't use hydrogen peroxide myself.

I don't know the bark and peat mix you mentioned, but I have been warned against some mixes from garden centres as they can be old and have soured. I use bark bought online, or from orchid shows from the orchid growers themselves, however, of course if you want to repot asap then that isn't easy.

I use KLN, a liquid rooting hormone.

Good luck! Hope they all make it

Rowangreen · #8 10-12-2011, 01:17 PM

Did the first one this morning before work: took longer than expected to tease all that tightly packed moss out! I trimmed off some roots. I was left with a fair amount that looked pretty healthy except they seemed to have dark tips. Hoping they'll be OK.

There were 3 pseudobulbs, one very small and new looking with the most roots, a length of rhizome then a couple of older ones with few roots. Also the orientation of the bulbs and leaves was such that the small one was down from the others. I was tempted to cut the best one off, but decided that was a risk. Didn't want to bury that deep either. So in the end I've planted it sort of sideways so all the 'pulbs' (can I call them that?) have their bases in the medium but not too deep, and all the growth is lying over. So probably not totally conventional, but I'm hoping the plant won't mind!

I did decide to risk the hydrogen peroxide as the sheafs etc round the base were looking a bit black. I rinsed it off after a few seconds.

I have taken pictures, but still can't get them to upload

I'm hoping the compost will be OK: the garden centre is rated one of the best in the country, but is quite small (so fast turnover) and in an area where every house has orchids! Actually when I went in they had a halloween themed area with orange Brassia orchids on sale. Resisted, though I did pick one up someone had thrown out today... another phal I think.

Off to repot some more now...

Rowangreen · #9 10-12-2011, 03:20 PM

Second (Noid poss Pagan Lovesong) was worse

. Thought great when it came out of the pot with what looked like loads of roots, and they looked good down the bottom, but they were just pulling off the cores instantly higher up. More moss and it looks like they've rotted from the top. I've cut off basically all but a few stumps, and those look dodgy. It did have deeply wrinkled pulbs, and I guess I know why now. Hoping I didn't make a mistake and cut off a load of OK roots.... but I don't think so. I don't give it much chance.

No 3, the Noid of Wildcat type was much better... I was actually in two minds about getting it out, as the pulbs look nice and plump and I could see healty roots at the top, but after the others I wanted to check it out. Well... roots look much better. I did cut out a couple looked a bit doubtfull and had a good poke into the middle... no moss!!!! Tried to get it back in the same pot and couldn't get the compost in, so found it a bigger pot. *G* I think as long as I can curb my previous tendency to kill orchids that one will be OK.

Talking of which... repotted a phal I've had for months as I couldn't see any healthy roots through it's clear pot. And it has no roots left... I think I'll have to start a new thread for that though...

silken · #10 10-13-2011, 01:16 AM

There is a sticky thread http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ends-here.html which has a lot of discussion on phals and the problems people have plus solutions. Form my own experience I un-pot a phal as soon as I get it home and remove the moss- especially the tight wet ball up under the crown and then re-pot. It doesn't seem to upset the blooms and if you leave it, the roots might rot before the blooms are finished.

Good luck with your newly potted plants. You can water them with K-L-N in the water to help the roots if you didn't have any to use when you re-potted. Just add it to the water that you water with until some roots get established.