Re-Potting Dry?

[Rowangreen]

In one of the talks at RHS Orchid show recently it was recomended that when you repot you don't imediately water, but leave the plant dry for a bit. The idea being that it stimulates the plant to put out new root growth.

Thinking about it I can see the sense: maybe it allows the plant to heal any breaks in roots, rather than have them imediately attacked by funghi in damp conditions?

What do folks think?

I potted an Encyclea/Prosthecea radiata and a mystery Lycaste dry yesterday (including removing a dead pbulb off the radiata, leaving one that looked a bit dogy on the Lycaste as it wasn't really accessible to remove) and so far they haven't keeled over and are looking perky and plump inspite of being dry...

I also can't remember how long they were supposed to be left dry...

[Paul Mc]

Interesting, I've always watered mine right after repotting. But it would make sense. I'd love to hear what others say on this!

[Leafmite]

When repotting, I always soak the orchid to make the roots more pliable but if the roots are at all damaged after I have picked out all the bark chips, I use the lava rock dry and let the roots heal. As for the question 'how long before I water?', I usually vary this depending on the orchid, temperatures, and season (growing/dormant).

[tucker85]

I always rinse and soak the medium before I repot with it, so it's always wet. I don't think it's ever caused a problem.

[keithrs]

I think it's more for plants that you made a cut on... Like removing old bulbs, cut roots, ect. to prevent rot from taking place. Holding water for a few days is probably isn't going to stimulate roots.. Your better off increasing the heat at the root zone.

[Lagoon]

I only repot during the times when I see roots growing. My potting mixture is never wet when I repot, always a damp feeling to my sphag and bark media, never wet.

So I don't water after any orchid right away once it gets a new home. For the next 2 weeks after anything has been repotted, I just water lighty. Then resume the normal waterings. My feeling has been, their dealing with the transplant to much water too soon can cause more stress. So for me its .... easy does it.

It could also depend on the media a person chooses

[jrodpad]

I've never repotted dry, but I now always add a few drops of K-L-N to the water that I soak the potting medium in overnight. My theory is the K-L-N will somehow soak into the bark chips and will help stimulate new root growth when the orchid gets potted up. I have no idea if this really works - it just seems like it should work so it's now part of my routine.

I have heard the repot dry advice before, but it's always been in the context of fungal/bacterial suppression; the theory being, that whenever you repot you will likely lacerate the root tissue to some extent and keeping the new potting medium dry for a while will discourage unwanted fungal/bacterial growth. I imagine a healthy dose of physan would do the same without the risk of desiccation.

- J

[Rowangreen]

Sounds like I made the right decision for these two plants anyway. I prefer not to bring in the heavy chemicals *G* I'll see how it goes.

[Rowangreen]

Update... After writing this I did 3 more plants: P. cochletea, Maxillaria variablis and Epidendrum peperonium. Day after that I gave them each a teaspoon or two of water (they are small plants in small pots!). I've also now done a Brassidium, left that dry for a day and then gave a small amount.

All plants were run under water before being potted, the Brassidium actually got soaked for an hour + to evict millipedes! So all went in with roots damp.

So far no signs of any problems. Too early to really tell, but I think those with growth are still growing.

I'm hopeful this is going to work for me. I've had issues with cambria types I've repotted before sulking on me and a phal dying (though that was a while back... and everyone has to kill one right?)

[Oscarman]

Always wate rbefore unpotting and once potted in new media I water with K-L-N solution. All my plants are going into S/H culture, so they always get watered after potting.

I too try to repot only with new root growth happening, unfortuntely its not always possible.

Any cuts made get seared with flamed shears and then cinnamon pressed into the bare surface.

Seems to work well.