Should I divide and repot my cat?

[court_b]

I recently bought this Cat a few months back. It bloomed about a month ago and it was beautiful!! Upon reading some of the forums on here I'm thinking I should divide my bulbs and repot. Is this correct?
Thank you for your help!

[court_b]

Sorry in advance for the sideways photo....

[Oscarman]

I would consider dividing an orchid to get more of the same plant, to give to others or to help clean up a large plant with many leafless backbulbs. So dividing is your choice.

It looks like you plant really just needs a good repot into a bit larger pot that will allow room for 1 or 2 years growth and with fresh media. Try to time repotting with a flush of new roots growing from the base of the newest growing pseudobulb(s). This will help minimize any set back.

Seems like there is a bit of excess pseudobulb shrivelling. Are you keeping it too dry - it is a large plant in a fairly small pot so it must dry out very quickly. Also it could be an indication that the roots in the pot are not too happy (read "dead"). Definitely time to investigate what is happening in the pot and the condition of the roots. It wont hurt to gently remove from the pot and check roots and then replace into same pot. Live roots=firm and whitish, dead roots =soft brown and squishy, Water well before removing and it will help roots release from the pot.

[court_b]

Originally Posted by Oscarman

I would consider dividing an orchid to get more of the same plant, to give to others or to help clean up a large plant with many leafless backbulbs. So dividing is your choice.

It looks like you plant really just needs a good repot into a bit larger pot that will allow room for 1 or 2 years growth and with fresh media. Try to time repotting with a flush of new roots growing from the base of the newest growing pseudobulb(s). This will help minimize any set back.

Seems like there is a bit of excess pseudobulb shrivelling. Are you keeping it too dry - it is a large plant in a fairly small pot so it must dry out very quickly. Also it could be an indication that the roots in the pot are not too happy (read "dead"). Definitely time to investigate what is happening in the pot and the condition of the roots. It wont hurt to gently remove from the pot and check roots and then replace into same pot. Live roots=firm and whitish, dead roots =soft brown and squishy, Water well before removing and it will help roots release from the pot.

Oscarman,
Thank you for your response!!
I wouldn't mind dividing it just to have another Cat but is it worth it; ie could I kill it from dividing it? I know that repotting has risks and I agree, it is long overdue for a repotting. I will repot when I see new roots growing.
I water it once a week for about 3 minutes. On my weekly Sunday water I will take it out of the pot and check it out. If there are dead roots should I remove them?
Thank you again for your response!
Court

[Optimist]

Every time I have split a plant it ended in tragedy. One or the other side died. I personally think that the bigger it is the more "specimen size" the stronger, and more valuable a plant. Down the road if you need to get rid of it, you can get a nice price for it. Cutting it in pieces only gets you a bunch of weak beginner plants. But it is your call, of course.

[court_b]

Originally Posted by Optimist

Every time I have split a plant it ended in tragedy. One or the other side died. I personally think that the bigger it is the more "specimen size" the stronger, and more valuable a plant. Down the road if you need to get rid of it, you can get a nice price for it. Cutting it in pieces only gets you a bunch of weak beginner plants. But it is your call, of course.

Optimist,
Thanks for the advice, that's great to know. I have never divided a plant, I'm new at this and the flowers my Cat produced were beautiful. I'd hate to loose it! I think I will not divide it based on your experience and advice!
Thanks!
Court

[orchids44]

Best to repot in the spring when you see new growth. Generally speaking catts do not like to be repotted in the fall when they're entering their rest period.
I would not divide this beauty if it were mine.

[court_b]

Originally Posted by orchids44

Best to repot in the spring when you see new growth. Generally speaking catts do not like to be repotted in the fall when they're entering their rest period.
I would not divide this beauty if it were mine.

Orchids44,
Thanks for the advice! Definitely not going to divide! Good to know to repot in the spring. I didn't know Cats needed a rest period, I'm going to further research this to make sure it's done right.
-Court

[bil]

There is a number of pseudobulbs, below which you shouldn't divide. Can't remember what it is, but if it is 5 then you shouldn't split a plant that has less than 10. The article went on to say that if you just snip off a pair of pseudobulbs, then if it didn't die, it would take a very long time to get back up to speed.
They also showed how to divide. You don't uproot the plant, you just sever the horizontal rhizome, dust the cut with fungicide, and slip a thin bit of plastic between the cut so it doesn't rejoin. I suppose you could make two cuts a 1/4 of an inch apart, which would make it easier to get the plastic strip in place. Then repot the following year when it is safe and the roots are beginning to grow.

[euplusia]

If you listen to 5 people, you get 10 opinions, that's normal. If this were my plant, I'd divide it into 2 plants once new roots start growing. Reason is that there is an optimum pot size.