Repotting/roots/caring/overgrown orchids (warning: lots of pics)

[Helene]

I've recently started taking care of my orchids. Maybe a month ago. Some were dead, but some were still alive- and gotten really big and messy, but beautiful

They have been taken care of by my hubby before- and that means: no nutrition, filled the pot with water (some died due to root-rot, some managed to adapt to this kinda like semi-hydro) and refill with water when they were dry. Thats it. No removing dead spikes, no repotting, only nature doing its thing. And in august I noticed them- actually a comment by my sis- who said she didnt like them- they looked messy and wild. My mom said they are awesome- so cool. Then I SAW them, the beauty in them, the wildness, and I started caring for them. And yeah- found this page- and now I'm hooked

But: they have been kinda on their own, and I'm afraid to screw them up if I care to much- ya know? So as someone mentioned in my introduction thread: need to go easy and steady on these guys

And of course: have bought two more since august all my plants are noID's, not many orchids in Norway- but there is a norwegian orchid society or something- looks like you can pre-order orchids for import if you are a member- so thats my next thing I guess.

Oh well- darn, I keep chatting on

Okey, I want advices/tips/anything on how to care for these plants- and if anyone wanna guess what species it is- be my guest

I'll post one post for each plant, with pictures and info- so its easy if you have ideas for an specific plant. Thank you very much. And if this belong in repotting instead, maybe a mod will move it. (Posted here since I'm new, and have questions about repotting, but also feeding/watering/medium and so on)

In this first post I will add pics of the two new ones- cause I'm not needing help with those- gonna let them be like they are until next year I think? They do have some black dots on the leaves though- not sure if its something wrong or just water/sun? (Was like that when I bought them)
Both says cambria- but one looks a bit like a brassia hybrid? Lol- I have no idea










These two I bought cause I liked the flowers. The last one smells really sweet, almost like honey or something
Its not only the flowers I love about orchids, I love the roots, the way they are- the nature of the plant- and the leaves (phal doesnt have great leaves, but the others look nice even when they're not blooming)

Will let you know when I post the last post- so please dont reply yet- easier to see when all plants are done.
Thanks

[Helene]

I have two more that arent very old- maybe a year or maybe two years since I got them.

This was a fake blue, someone gifted me this last year I think. Reblooming. Dont think it needs a repot yet?

Just keeps blooming.


This was gifted me aswell- maybe last year or two years ago

Spiking, and a new spike just started. Dont remember if its white or pink flowers



Maybe repot next year? After blooming?
But these looks okay, I think

[Helene]

The yellow lady This is from 2010 (lol- said so on the pot, from Ikea)
This need a repot, or split it. I prefer to keep it the way it is. So I'm thinking potting in an oval pot, since thats the way it grows?

(Something in this shape? Not my pot, just random pic to show what I'm thinking)

Plant from above


From side




Been flowering all summer


In due time for a repot??


Any advice on this? What medium does it like? Dont know if we have spag.moss here, but can order from ebay

And: most roots inside pot are damaged/rotten/ or something I think- but havent checked. Just guessing from what I've seen on the others. Due to my hubby watering-method

[Helene]

Keiki plant. This was when I started to care for them


Didnt know what to do with it, so I just supported the keikis with a branch



The main plant is kinda growing sideways-


Today- starting to bloom, think its pink




Have no idea what to do with this? Keep it like it is? Bigger pot? Chop the keiki?
(Not while flowering of course)

[Helene]

Mr. Big… This is a big plant, and its growing long roots. I think most roots inside the pot have rotten, and then turned into bark or something- and thats how it managed to survive the water-regime

Big, my hand is small, but not thaaat small


I soaked it in water with aquashield, and a tiny amount of nutrition- just as a start. Gonna have to take it easy- they have never been used to anything else than lots of water/no water. Old leaves: cut them of?


Lots of roots on this one- and spiking again


Greenish flower on one spike, the other spike had white flowers. The new one I dont know


And: many of my plants have spikes that is blooming after the "main-blooming"- with one or maybe two more flowers: like this

Isnt the plant using alot of energy keeping these? With a new spike coming- let it be or cut it off to save energy?

I would like to keep the nature of the plant- and it obviously like to grow roots- maybe put it in something like this?


Or other ideas?

[orchidsarefun]

Your plants are absolutely wonderful and very well grown !
I wouldn't put phals in slatted baskets, but maybe with your green thumb , you should try !
I have separated keikis when they have at least 3 2 inch roots. It looks like yours can be cut.
I recommend you join the society - 1) you can swap plants and 2) you can meet like-minded individuals.

[Helene]

Orchid gone wild B)

This is awesome- cause its do funny/ugly that its actually kinda cool This is what happens if you neglect them over years, and it shows that it like to grow sideways/upsidedown- to protect the crown from water.

Gonna let the pics speak for themselves:
First pic, when I started caring for them


And random pics from now







One more spike, so its spiking all the time

(You can see it between the leaves behind my hand)

And roots in pot are mostly turned to bark- but enough roots on outside- and inside pots are new roots, and they are tangled around the pot:


Maybe put this in a wooden basket aswell? Same as Mr.Big? Would like for it to keep growing the way it wants to

[Helene]

Last one

This I actually repotted, and that didnt go to well- some leaves are wilting, but there are new growth aswell.

It was like this


Its from 2009, and rarely blooms. It was all over the place. I decided to repot, and all roots in pot were rotten, didnt smell good.
I just cut some bad roots, put in a bigger pot- used branch to support the canes. I need to do something about this:
Divide it? Or pot in something else? For now I'm trying to see where it naturally would split- trying to see something in the chaos. Have no idea what to do ??









So- what the heck to do??

That was the last one thank you for taking the time to look at my plants

[Helene]

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

Your plants are absolutely wonderful and very well grown !

I wouldn't put phals in slatted baskets, but maybe with your green thumb , you should try !

I have separated keikis when they have at least 3 2 inch roots. It looks like yours can be cut.

I recommend you join the society - 1) you can swap plants and 2) you can meet like-minded individuals.

Thank you My hubby has grown them kinda cute I have started giving them more love, and less water I water them more often, and mist their roots. I still give them a soak every week- and then let the water out of the pots- cause they are used to him drowning them, so I dont want to dry them out. Think I'm doing something correct- cause they've started to get shiny leaves, and grows even faster

Yeah, the keikis are big, one is blooming, and the size are okay. But I think its kinda cute the way it is? But not sure what it will do to do the mother-plant? And should I put some moss around the roots of the keiki?

Phals: not sure if its the air-roots or the ones in the pot keeping them alive. But I need to do something- roots are almost on the floor- and they will not fit inside any pots? Thats why I was thinking of a basket? Maybe make one with plastic in the bottom to put bark in, and let the roots hang out of it?

[orchidsarefun]

I also have a giant with more roots outside the pot than in. I recently repotted and the roots in the pot were healthy and green. This orchid - Phal Baldan's Kaleidoscope - grows well and blooms every year, so I am not worried.
I have left well alone as I don't want to mess with success.