From a 3" to 3.5" pot?

[Becca]

I just repotted a Cattleya harrisoniae. It was in a round green 3" inch pot that was maybe around 2.75" deep to a 3.5 inch square pot that is 4 inches deep....the pot size sure looks a little on the big side. I a repotting because I just received the orchid a few weeks ago and wanted to see the root system and I also wanted to put it into a clear pot so I can observe moisture and roots in the pot. Should I just put it back into a 3 inch pot?

[Ross]

Originally Posted by RPfeiffer

I just repotted a Cattleya harrisoniae. It was in a round green 3" inch pot that was maybe around 2.75" deep to a 3.5 inch square pot that is 4 inches deep....the pot size sure looks a little on the big side. I a repotting because I just received the orchid a few weeks ago and wanted to see the root system and I also wanted to put it into a clear pot so I can observe moisture and roots in the pot. Should I just put it back into a 3 inch pot?

I think you're fine, but why bother with such a small increment? I would have gone to a 4" round, myself. But that's just me.

[Lagoon]

I would just leave it Becca. It's always a good idea to give any 'chid some room to grow in for altease another year or perhaps more.
Easy does it on the watering this time of year for many catts,they maybe bloom their fool heads off, but the growth really halts til spring. Thats' been my experience.

Happy growing Bec

[Becca]

Originally Posted by Lagoon

I would just leave it Becca. It's always a good idea to give any 'chid some room to grow in for altease another year or perhaps more.
Easy does it on the watering this time of year for many catts,they maybe bloom their fool heads off, but the growth really halts til spring. Thats' been my experience.

Happy growing Bec

Ok I left it in the pot I repotted it into. But on the note of the easy does it on the watering comment....ummm...I can't keep up with what needs a rest and what doesn't. I know certain dendrobiums need a rest.....but other then that....I am uncertain. My Cattleya species and hybrid's are in active growth with several new leads growing and I have my lights on for around 10 - 12 hours a day and I am still watering with MSU fertalizer at the recommended dosage Ray suggested....I would have to check for exact timing on my lights....my sister told me to shorten it to 8 hours a day...She lives in Oregon and doesn't grow under lights and has decent humidity and all of her orchids are in Spike. Is there a website I can go to to find out what orchids need a rest and which do not? It is soooo confusing!

[Lagoon]

I do understand what your saying, Its hard at times to know what they want.
I find young plants just wanna grow grow grow. When to adult stages then things can change - they will slow down in growth. For many catts right now its their season to bloom. For others spring is the prime bloom time.

I always take my cue from the orchids themselves they tell me what they need. I don't force nor cool rest, they tempts are normal under my grow lights - from 68 nite to 72 daytime.
When my orchids are sending new growth, I still feed and water them, just not as much as the summer time.
The less growth they do now, the less water they get.

Catts will also rest abit after blooming.
Take you direction from your orchids, they do talk in their own ways

Sometimes you go to go a couple of winters to undestand what they are really doing. Just relax and do your best Becca -- Its the intentions that count

[orchidexpress]

Whenever repotting, it's not always that you go up a half a size. Actually it all depending on the roots. Remember they still want to be a little pot bound so they can dry out easily. My motto, when in doubt, underpot. You will probally be alright with what you have done.

Happy Growing!

Lee

[Becca]

I have heard several times that orchids like to be a little pot bound....but this doesn't make any sense to me since when they grow in the wild, the roots are free to grow and not constricted. I can see how the roots need to dry out out quickly, but I thought that is what the coarse fast draining material is for?

[orchidexpress]

RPfeiffer, what do you pot your orchids in?
Yes when they grow in the wild they are on the trees Or the phrag, paphs and others are bog palnts who lie to stay wet. You just can't put a four inch rootball into an eight inch pot as the mix will not dry out before the week when you may be watering next.

Happy Growing!

Lee

[Ross]

Originally Posted by RPfeiffer

I have heard several times that orchids like to be a little pot bound....but this doesn't make any sense to me since when they grow in the wild, the roots are free to grow and not constricted. I can see how the roots need to dry out out quickly, but I thought that is what the coarse fast draining material is for?

Becca, there are many ways to assure the roots dry out. With the exception of a few kinds that pretty well resent root disturbance or won't bloom unless crowded, you can use coarse material (I use everything from coarse fir bark to rock to coarse agricultural charcoal, depending on the species). It's just a medium to assure a certain amount of nutrienst and water are provided to the roots. I overpot my Brassias because they tend to grow over sides of pots if I don't, and I don't like that appearance. But I use large waterlily backets so the entire root mass is subjected to the breeze from my 24/7 fans. This causes the entire root mass to be pretty dry in 4-5 days. You can also try slotted plastic pots (there are all sorts available) or slotted clay pots (a bit harder to find, but they're out there) to provide more air to the root mass. So larger pots isn't necessarily a bad thing, just takes more attention to what's happening in there.

[quiltergal]

I really hate repotting every 6 months so I do the same as Ross and slightly overpot. I also use clear slotted pots that dry out the media much quicker than traditional pots. All my orchids in this type of setup including Dens and Catts are loving it, and many of them are in spike. I wonder how much of the "they like to be root bound" is myth? Hey Ray, you're a mythbuster (or an iconoclast ), what do you think?