Dendrobium aggregatum repotting question

[orion141]

Hey everyone, I went to an orchid auction yesterday and picked up a dendrobium aggregatum (lindleyi). It looks to me like it needs to be repotted. It is currently in a netted pot with bark and sponge rock mix. I am growing all indoors now (under T5HO lights). Would you all recommend repotting into another netted pot? I have seen "orchid core dual orchid pots" on repotme.com that looked like they might be interesting (would make it easier to contain roots and such for growing indoors). Also do you all think that a CHC, charcoal, sponge rock mix would work for this orchid (what I currently have) or should I go get some bark and sponge rock mix? Thanks in advance!

[orion141]

Also here is a picture of the plant. Do you guys agree that it needs to be repotted?

[WhiteRabbit]

[Leafmite]

I would re-pot it to give it a extra room. I put mine in a plastic Vanda basket to give it plenty of room to spread out. I was a little rough with the re-potting as I removed an old wooden Vanda-basket that was rotting away and mine sulked this past year and only put out one new growth. :|

[orion141]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I would re-pot it to give it a extra room. I put mine in a plastic Vanda basket to give it plenty of room to spread out. I was a little rough with the re-potting as I removed an old wooden Vanda-basket that was rotting away and mine sulked this past year and only put out one new growth. :|

Did you pot it with any potting mix? If so what did you use?

[Leafmite]

I use red lava rock as it is readily available where I live and cheap. It works well as our weather is so variable here. What medium you use (if any) usually depends on your climate and availability.

[orion141]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I use red lava rock as it is readily available where I live and cheap. It works well as our weather is so variable here. What medium you use (if any) usually depends on your climate and availability.

I grow indoors under T5HO lights. I have typically been using a CHC, charcoal, sponge rock mix. Would this be suitable or would something like a coarse bark with charcoal and sponge rock be better? I can get any of this stuff online with no problems. I was thinking to put this plant into a net basket pot again to ensure adequate airflow.

[Bud]

Leafmite is correct in saying that you need to repot but you have to be very careful in disturbing the roots since that orchid plant will sulk on you and delay bloom cycle....whatever media mix you mentioned that is available for you is fine. Follow the culture religiously and feed it this warmer months and every other day water....also give it proper winter rest....hold fertilizer but do not withhold water completely = only every ten days watering in winter is fine.

[orion141]

Hey thanks for the reply. How much larger on the basket would you go from here (I was thinking 2-3 inches larger in diameter)?

[james mickelso]

I can't really tell from the pic but it looks fine where it is. Dens like a smaller bark or CHC mix that retains a little more moisture. Use what you normally pot into. The pot looks to be ok for one more years growth but then it will definitely need repotting. You can repot now but I would wait until it starts throwing out new growth and the roots start to grow. It is fairly warm where you are and bright. If you can, I would put a small fan to stir the air a little around the orchids. The color looks good. Any darker and it will mean more light. Dens like cattleya light levels.