Why is repotting a new orchid such a pain

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

My least favorite part is picking old medium off the roots.

You really don't even have to be too thorough in doing that... Unless there is some sort of infestation, a little stuff stuck to roots is better than risking damage removing it, even if a little unaesthetic.. Whenever I do anything to a plant I ask, "Is this for the orchid, or is this for me?" If the latter, I tend to leave stuff, if possible not remove anything that the plant is still using.

---------- Post added at 03:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:41 PM ----------

Originally Posted by bil

Thanks for that.

I looked, but couldn't see them. Nice too see smeone realises there is a market for shallow pots.

Another source for bulb pans (and wood baskets and lots of other good stuff) is
Green Barn Orchid Supplies
I have found them to be terrific to deal with.

[Dollythehun]

Originally Posted by bil

Thanks for that.

I looked, but couldn't see them. Nice too see smeone realises there is a market for shallow pots.

bil, maybe it was Kellies Korner. I'd been looking for baskets. it was. here is the link:

Pots & Containers

---------- Post added at 05:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:37 PM ----------

ES taught me to spray the root ball with the kitchen sprayer. It loosens things up well. Just be sure you have a mesh strainer in the drain.

[estación seca]

If you live in a house in Houston, next time take them outside and use the hose. Spray hard to get all the old stuff off the roots.

Miltassias generally don't like heat. I worry one or more of your pseudobulbs are brown and soft at the base (meaning easy to bend, and flopping around.) If they are brown and soft at the base, they are dead. This is how Oncidiums rot - from the base up. It is especially likely in hot weather.

If you have any soft brown bases, you need to cut them off the rest of the plant one by one with a very sharp paring knife. After each cut look at the rhizome. If it is pure green, stop. If it is partially black or brown, sanitize your knife with fire, or 10% bleach solution for a few minutes, then take off another pseudobulb. Keep going until you cut into pure green. It is possible the plant is already dead.

Miltassias are not like Cattleyas and Phalaenopsis. They should not get almost dry. They need to be quite moist all the time, especially during warm weather. And do everything you can to keep them cool in your hot weather.

[Roberta]

Disposable single edge razor blades are also very useful for "surgery" on orchids. Use them on one plant, then throw away. Removes possibility of cross contamination, no need for concern as to whether cleaning practice is sufficient. They don't work well on genera with large, tough rhizomes (like Cyms and full-size Catts, pruning shears sterilized by propane torch flame needed) but for Oncidinae and other modest-sized orchids they work great. Something like $7 for 100 in the paint department of your favorite big-box home improvement store.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

bil, maybe it was Kellies Korner. I'd been looking for baskets. it was. here is the link:

Pots & Containers[COLOR="Silver"]

---------- Post added at 05:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:37 PM ----------

Now those are MUCH more like it. I did see some plastic containers once in a homes and garden shop here that were square and about 8-9 inches on a side, and 3 inches deep. They looked as if they were woven but they were all in one piece, so they looked nice too.

[nogreenthumbs]

Originally Posted by estación seca

If you live in a house in Houston, next time take them outside and use the hose. Spray hard to get all the old stuff off the roots.

I'm in an apartment, so no hose.

Miltassias generally don't like heat. I worry one or more of your pseudobulbs are brown and soft at the base (meaning easy to bend, and flopping around.) If they are brown and soft at the base, they are dead. This is how Oncidiums rot - from the base up. It is especially likely in hot weather.

These are in an airconditioned apartment 24x7x365 so heat shouldn't be an issue

If you have any soft brown bases, you need to cut them off the rest of the plant one by one with a very sharp paring knife. After each cut look at the rhizome. If it is pure green, stop. If it is partially black or brown, sanitize your knife with fire, or 10% bleach solution for a few minutes, then take off another pseudobulb. Keep going until you cut into pure green. It is possible the plant is already dead.

I doublechecked, definitely nothing squishy, soft, or floppy, and I don't think they've really got any brown on them either.

Miltassias are not like Cattleyas and Phalaenopsis. They should not get almost dry. They need to be quite moist all the time, especially during warm weather. And do everything you can to keep them cool in your hot weather.

Good info, thanks. I'll make sure to keep these well watered. The pot that it's in has lots of holes and slits on the bottom and several slits up the side, so they get a fair amount of airfloow and dry pretty quickly. I can water them daily if needed.

[CJ Green]

I don't have any suggestions, just commiseration--I've had the same problem repotting Phals that have been climbing up out of their pot--even going the next size up it seemed hard to stuff the roots into the pot and not have the plant sitting really high above it.