Repotting Paphiolpedilum, container questions...

[betwixtimes]

Originally Posted by MrHappyRotter

Add my vote for transparent plasic pots. I've been growing orchids now for decades (damn I feel old, but swear I started young), and I will swear by them. They're particularly useful for slippers. I can't understate how helpful they are in monitoring root health and moisture levels. I'm lucky in that I can buy them from a local vendor, but they're also very easy to buy online. So, with that being said, I'd stick with plastic. I grow nearly all my plants in plastic pots, and I use clay pots as cache pots to add to their beauty when they are bloom.

As far as pot size, judging by your photo, I would stick with a round plastic pot of the same diameter as your current pot. Your plant doesn't look like it needs to be potted up. The same size should be good.

In terms of keeping the critters at bay, that's a harder question to answer. I've lost multiple plants over the years to various pets, and it's disheartening, I admit. The most expensive plant I lost to a pet was a phrag kovachii hybrid that my former roommate's cat decided at random was a very tasty treat. So far, the most effective deterrent I've found, other than making sure my orchids were completely out of reach, is a liberal coating of hand soap or dish detergent. Just to put some perspective on it, I first tried some of the commercial products (bitter apple sprays). Those did little or nothing to keep cats and dogs from chewing on my plants. Next I tried pepper sauce (i.e. tobasco sause and similar products with lots of capsaicin). That actually encouraged pets to chew my plants. The only thing that worked was when I started using hand soap. Cats and dogs hate the taste of that. So, if it's feasible for you, you may try that. From experience, soaps don't appear to harm the orchids. I mix a few table spoons into spray bottle, then soak the plants. That seemed to be enough to stop pets from chewing on leaves.

*LOL* yeah, the mutant huge kitten really just can't handle sharing. Do you like the clear with standard holes or the sort with slits? You can buy lots on certain auction sites. Strangely, my issue is mostly with the hubby not being fond of plastics...

I try and be mindful of the moisture, especially with the drier conditions of winter--- I drenched the Phap when I got home, and once in the past 3 weeks.

Can I re-pot in an amended phalanopis mix? Add a bit of organic compost and perlite? Right now it looks like it was planted in coconut husk, perlite, bitty rocks and sand/dirt. I'm not sure where to get coconut husk...