Sticking an aquarium air pump inside my pot

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

OW, I agree with you except on the dry bark. Not that that's a bad idea but, I like to rinse the fines off my bark first, as you know it can clog the roots.

I have a cheap plastic colander and just put the orchid bark in that and shake it (outdoors, or over a trash can). Any little bit of fines left after that, I don't worry about too much.

[rbarata]

I think dry bark is easier to repot 'cause when you poke the pot most of the large voids left inside the pot disapear. With wet bark it's much harder.
But one can rinse it to get rid of the smallest materials and let it dry again before repoting.

[greenpassion]

OW, I wasn't aware that bruised roots become rotted? I've never thought of that before...

[eager2learn]

Okay,

So rinse the bark of the fine dust first.

Wait for it to dry.

Then pot.

Bruises become root rot.

Key info.

Thank you.

Ya no quiero vivir sin ti a mi lado.

[camille1585]

The thing with orchids is that there is no one correct way to do things. It works to repot with dry bark, but it works equally well with wet bark. Both are commonly done.

I've been repotting Phal the last couple years always with freshly soaked bark, and never had issues with it. I don't notice much of a difference with dry bark when trying to get it to settle evenly in the pot. The roots are in the way all the same!

I do soak the roots for 5 minutes before potting, it makes them more pliable and less likely to break when trying to stuff them back in the pot.