Proper pot size for kingianum?

[T0dd]

I was cleaning up my fledgling orchid collection today and decided to repot my Dendrobium kingianum. This is the first orchid I've ever had any success with, and it seems to be thriving, having shot up three pseudobulbs in the last 3-4 months, each one taller and fatter than the last.

I ordered a small pot for it several weeks ago, and haven't had the chance to repot, so I started to do it today. As soon as I pulled the plant out of its current pot, I was shocked (in a good way) at how much root growth had occurred. The bark and moss were held solidly together by a mass of healthy-looking roots.

But now I'm thinking the new pot might be too small! I know I've read that some orchids do well with ridiculously cramped pots, but I don't know about the kingianum specifically. What do you think? Is this a reasonable new home for it, or should I go bigger?

[cbuchman]

That is a terrific root mass you've got there!.

Smaller pots are better for the Kingianums. They like to be pot bound. Watch how wet the mediums stays as the pot int he picture seems to have an attached saucer. Kings like a dry spell in early winter, so you want to be able to control the moisture level in the pot.

I have a larger King in a an 8" clay pot that is quite pot bound. I'm thinking if planting it in a hanging basket with lava rock in the spring. At least with lava rock I won't have to worry about he medium braking down.

[WhiteRabbit]

If it fits, use the pot you have - it can grow in there until the plant crowds it. Tho with sphag, it will require fresh media in a year from when you used that sphag.

I don't give mine a true dry period, but do allow media to dry completely before watering in winter. Mine already has nodes swelling by later summer/early fall, and spikes have started now, tho plant doesn't bloom til spring. Mine stays outside, so perhaps the chilly temps slow the growth of the spikes ... But blooms fabulously early spring!

[Andrew]

There are some nice roots on your plant but it's not in the slightest bit pot bound. The white pot will be fine for a couple of year's growth. Bear in mind that the root ball will probably be fairly dense when the plant is ready for a larger pot so it might be difficult to get the plant out without breaking the pot (probably not an issue for you but it looks like a nice pot). As far as picking pot sizes, the general rule I go by is to give the plant a cane's width of space between the plant and the rim of the pot for every year between repotting.

As Whiterabbit mentioned the short life of sphagnum, unless you love sphagnum, I'd recommend using a medium that will last a bit longer so you don't have to repot every year.

[T0dd]

Thanks, guys.

Andrew, I'm only using sphagnum because it seems to be common, and that's how it originally came. I'd certainly be open to other suggestions!

[Cym Ladye]

Spag is used because it is light for shipping small plants in from offshore. I would never use it for continued potting as it breaks down too soon. Kingianums would do better with anything else but spag for that reason.

CL

[WhiteRabbit]

If it's done well for you with the media it has, there's no reason to change it, other than the frequent repotting - and if that also works for you, no need to change.

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by T0dd

Thanks, guys.

Andrew, I'm only using sphagnum because it seems to be common, and that's how it originally came. I'd certainly be open to other suggestions!

Bark or CHC should give you 2 or 3 years in the pot. A bit of lava rock, pebbles etc in the mix will help keep the mix open as it ages. Personally. I use equal parts bark, CHC and lava rock with reasonable results.

[Troythediver]

As a beginner who had made the error. I just wanted to add caution. I had only grown in spaghnum and was convinced that my orchids would thrive doubly in bark. When I switched, the first batch did very poorly. I was used to watering every 2-3 weeks. I had to readjust my watering completely because they all dried up too much. They are still alive but set back significantly.

[T0dd]

I've been doing fine with Sphagnum (with some bark mixed in), and I don't mind repotting as long as I have a small number of orchids.

Then again, I'm new at this, and it might be informative for me to try CHC. If I were to do that, for small kingianums, should I use the "small" size? Maybe a mix of small and medium? It IS dry in my house, so it seems like small might hold onto moisture a little better.