Bought some more :)

[calypsoB]

So, an update since it has been awhile since my last post. I had a large infestation of mites which caused some pretty bad damage to my three orchids (only three I own ). Funnily enough they are all still alive! even the Cat with no roots is still alive (not looking good but alive). The smaller one which I was sure wouldn't make it has made a huge turn around since September and is putting out roots like crazy and a new leaf. The larger one with pretty polka dot flowers (they are both noids) is having a tough go but is putting out a new leaf, although I don't see any new root growth yet. The upside is that I didn't have much root die off after the mite attack. So with this bright looking bunch I thought to myself that maybe I can grow these things. So I went to my near by nursery and bought two out of bloom noids. They have amazing roots and good looking leaves and they only cost me $5 each! They are now in quarantine with a mite infestation (seems to be in all nurseries around me:S). But I am not worried, I bought neem oil! When I sprayed them I swear dead bugs I didn't even see showed up! So After I give them a few doses I was thinking I should repot them. Is this a good idea during hardy root growing season? I am concerned about root rot since it seems to be packed quite tightly. Mine seem to like loose packing in an orchid pot and 2nd day watering. Starnge I know, but it is working How would you handle this?

[Bud]

since you are repotting it, you need not neem oil it...just clean the plant, use a soft bristle used toothbrush...clean its nooks and crannies and its roots well and let the water run through it in the sink and to make sure the bug eggs are disposed of: pot it in a clean fresh media...
next time: if its just bugs...try the home made remedy first before you go and use the big guns...neem oil can burn the leaves if exposed to sunlight; it also attracts fungi infestation...there are better, cheaper and gentler bug insecticides

[ryrycochinco]

your lucky you only own three orchids, it's devastating to lose a large collection!

[calypsoB]

Normally I would just use a water soap oil solution but I knew that these had a pretty bad case and I don't think my catt could survive at all if more bugs hit it.
I would have mre orchids if I could keep them alive! But I think OB has helped me learn a lot! When to help and when I have helped a bit too much!LOL!

[Becca]

If your orchid is in active root growth then it is fine to repot it. If it is not in active root growth then I would hold off but it also depends on the situation. A lot of members here repot all of their newly aquired orchids as soon as they get them no matter what the stage of root growth is....it isn't a bad idea, it gives you a chance to see what the condition of the root system is and to check for any unwanted bugs.

[calypsoB]

So I decided to repot. I wanted to check out the roots and see how bad the bugs were. Well it has taken me an hour to try to peel these things out of their pots. They were so root bound that there is no way I could put them back into the same pots! I got to see some moving scale, ants, and mites. I gave them another spritz of neem because some roots were so close together I could not get all the moss out. There was the beginning of root rot But I feel confident that it can be controlled. Now, off to go buy some orchid pots Five dollar orchids are never just $5