REPOTTING IN A BASKET

[TRANCEBOY]

I have repoted most catts in baskets. I was watching a youtube clip and the guy repoted an orchid and said if they where loose this would cause them to die.

I am using 6" or 8" baskets . I plance the plant on the edge depending what works best and place better grwo special orchid mix to the top to stableize the plan. I have tied very few of them as i figure the roots will find their way to hold on to the basket. I do not move them and leave them in their place. Did i do the wrong thing ??

[WhiteRabbit]

Sounds fine to me

[Vanda lover]

Sounds fine to me. Some orchids are picky about being moved around but others aren't. There are people who have their vandas in vase culture that remove them and soak them in a pail of water with fertilizer each time they water them.

[TRANCEBOY]

I was most concerned with the cats as many i was forced to remove roots from due to bad media when purchased. Almost all i did not tie. I packed the media to hold them in place. and then coverd the top to the rim of the basket. I cant see the roots at all but today i lifted a few pieces of media and noticed they all had small little green roots growing. Should i leave the media in place ? How does fertalizer reach the plant ? In another post they mentioned to spray it in . I guess the fertalizer goes in the media ?

[nlm2951]

Orchids like to feel secure what I do when I use baskets is get a piece of wood stick (like the ones use to hold the flowers) and push it thru the slat of the box and the roots, that will hold them if I use the pots I use the clip, but you most make them secure. norma

[Vanda lover]

Plants can absorb fertilizer through their leaves, but they don't get much that way. They absorb much more through their roots.

[Stray59]

TRANCEBOY:
It sounds like you are doing well with your basket collection!! It is true some orc's are very touchy when it comes to needing to be secured well, but many aren't that picky.
The reason for wanting a "secure" plant is not just to make the plant feel secure, but to make sure that the plant does not flip out of the pot / basket. I have a Lc. Irene Finney 'York' that I purchased in a net bag - it was in rough shape and I did not pot it immediately but put it on a bed of damp coco-chunks and the plant started to put out new roots and two new eyes.
So I finally potted it up and set it in with my other orchids. For some reason the plant would NOT stay in the pot (it was top-heavy I am sure). I would come in and it would have fallen over sideways or was completely out of the pot. I planted it deeper, but to no avail - it still slumped sideways or was just very unstable. But, all the time the roots and eyes were actively growing. Finally, I had to put a pot clip in it AND tie it to a stake to get it to stay put. It now has roots attached to the pot and I am able to remove the clip and stake. So, whether the plant NEEDS to be secured, yo probably will want it to be or else you will be looking on the floor for your orchid!!! Once the new roots have "grabbed onto" the media or the pot, you can remove the stabilizers. If you leave a clip on too long, the plant will grow over it and it can cause problems down the road.
I hope some of this helps. Basically, what I am trying to say is "relax" - nature (and orchids) will find a way! You don't want a loosely potted orchid, but don't over-pack it either. Just think of stabilizing it long enough for the roots to start growing - let the orchid to do the rest of the work.
Steve