How to Repot a Epi/Enc with Crazy Overgrown Roots?

[Jenna09]

Hi Everyone

One of my favourite orchids, Epi. Marble x Enc. Cordigera, is starting to have it's flowers fade and drop after being in bloom since I bought it on August 4th.

I am wanting to repot it once it drops the rest of it's flowers as it has some major rogue roots going on. It has 3-4 new growths (pictured) and I am not sure what to do with all those roots.

Do I leave the roots exposed? or bury them in the medium?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Jenna

[Roberta]

You can put those errant roots into the new bark. It certainly needs to go up a pot size or two (I'd say that a pot around 5 inches/12-13 cm with in diameter with similar depth would be about right. Put the oldest part of the plant against the pot, to maximize the space for new growth. There are new roots growing, so this is the time to do it. (You really don't need to wait until it goes out of bloom... new roots say "pot me!") The old roots may or may not adapt to the change of environment, but they will continue working at least long enough for the new ones to get established. Also be sure that the plant is very stable in its new pot since any wobbling will damage those new root tips.

[Ben_in_North_FLA]

if you force those air roots down, they will break and create an entry point for a problem (fungus, bacteria, etc). I would leave the air roots be... it is an air plant after all.
Encyclia really like to dry tween waterings. I would put the whole plant root ball and all into a wood basket (6 inch, abt $5)lined with fiberglass screening on the inside that is stapled to the wood. Fill in any void space with large pieces of bark so that plant is locked in place. This as we are approaching the no re-potting season. If the media is starting to decay you can repot it in the spring after it starts rooting again.

[Ray]

Can you post a close up of the flower? There is no such registered hybrid as Epi. Marble, but a photo might help ID a cross made with Enc. cordigera.

[Jenna09]

Hi Ray

Here it is.

Thanks
Jenna

[katrina]

It's probably Mable Kanda, rather than Marble.