Dendrobium Spectabile help

[Jfray]

I recently picked up a Dendrobium Spectabile bag baby at my local Home Depot. It is seemingly in ok shape. It was however potted in a green non-seethrough container (annoying) so I can't get a good look at the roots! Upon inspection of the bottom I can see that packing peanuts were used, so I'm hoping for ok drainage. I have read that these plants DONT enjoy the repot so I am hesitant! Should I leave it and see how it goes? Or repot it now?

I also just finished repotting my phal with seemingly good success, but I suppose time will tell!

Thanks for any advise!!!

[estación seca]

Welcome to our group! We look forward to seeing all the great orchids you're going to grow.

Lots of people repot every new plant immediately. Others check the medium and, if it's good, wait until the appropriate time to repot - for Dens, when they're making new growth and/or new roots.

How large is the pot of the Den? Can you slide it out of the pot and examine the roots and potting medium? (I bet you can.) If the medium is breaking down, or the roots are in trouble, you have to repot right now. If the medium and roots look OK, some people would wait until the plant begins growth and then repot.

In either case isolate it for a while in case it has bugs.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I bought a D. spectabile a couple years ago, also a bagged orchid. I repotted right away,into medium that is mostly 'lava rock' with about 10% each coarse bark and coarse charcoal, potted in a terracotta orchid pot. The roots started growing again relatively quickly. It bloomed for me this year.

Based on my experience I would go ahead and repot now.

If you have Cattleyas, this orchid will grow well under similar conditions. They do like good drainage. I would stick with a terracotta pot to provide a little better drainage around the roots.

---------- Post added at 08:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:19 PM ----------

BTW, my D. Spectabile was actively growing when I bought an repotted it.

[Joseia]

I don't have any experience with a den spectabile, but I do successfully grow six other Latourias and they don't seem to be very bothered by getting repotted. When I get a new plant, I don't usually repot immediately. I keep it separate from my other plants for a week or two and try to let it acclimatize to my environment to try avoiding shocking it too much. If possible, wait for signs of new root growth before repotting.

Having said all the above, I have repotted plants immediately after purchase if the media is really broken down and nasty. With the bag babies, you don't really know what you have till you take it out of that mesh, so its really hard to tell the condition of the roots till you get it home.

[Orchid Whisperer]

My experience with the bagged orchids is that the medium is usually not overly decomposed, and the roots are usually in decent shape if the plant has not been in the store too long. Plant looking OK often correlates with the roots looking OK.

However, there is often a fair amount of mineral buildup. Although these plants are usually not bug-infested, I do like to give them a good looking over. For these reasons, I usually try to repot fairly soon after I buy, if possible.

[AuGrower]

I got mine from Lowe's. I kept it in its pot for about 6 months then when it was growing new canes and about to put out new roots I repotted it and loved it. Its blooming now, but i didn't disturb the roots much so that may be why.