Repot catasetum to allow room for new growth?

[Dorchid]

Have a new catasetum division doing well. There is a new growth beginning between the last pbulb and the container next to the old spike stump with no room to grow (literally a mm or 2 gap). Should I repot this or possibly cut the container away there? Or just let it ride? As an aside, this plant received one watering 11 days ago but I decided to hold off on any additional water until more roots have developed. Thoughts?

[fishmom]

It's hard to tell what those roots are doing in the pot, but you could just slip the whole thing out of the small pot and into the next size up, filling in very gently with your medium. Remember that the roots are VERY brittle, so try to avoid damaging them.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by fishmom

It's hard to tell what those roots are doing in the pot, but you could just slip the whole thing out of the small pot and into the next size up, filling in very gently with your medium. Remember that the roots are VERY brittle, so try to avoid damaging them.

[Dorchid]

Yeah, that’s kind of what I was thinking but it is firmly attached in the pot. Maybe cut it away in strips as to gently tease it off the roots? If a lot of damage is done to the existing roots in doing so, would it be safe to assume there is plenty of time at this point for enough new roots to grow for this season?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Dorchid

would it be safe to assume there is plenty of time at this point for enough new roots to grow for this season?

Yes! If you soak the pot, the whole thing should pop out without roots breaking. You can let the media dry without a pot and add it to the new pot after the whole thing is dry. Or you could see that the roots are long enough and start watering. I'm not sure what you'll see!

[hypostatic]

I'm sure you could just give the pot intermittent soaks to water the ctsm, and that should be enough to water/fertilize it without having to mess with the delicate roots.

[Dorchid]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Yes! If you soak the pot, the whole thing should pop out without roots breaking. You can let the media dry without a pot and add it to the new pot after the whole thing is dry. Or you could see that the roots are long enough and start watering. I'm not sure what you'll see!

Ha; I’ll give it a try! Would it be ill advised to put it into PET or would the roots or lack there of or damage dictate that?

Originally Posted by hypostatic

I'm sure you could just give the pot intermittent soaks to water the ctsm, and that should be enough to water/fertilize it without having to mess with the delicate roots.

The issue is there’s a new growth coming in with little to no room ( see op). Otherwise, I’d just leave it as is.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Dorchid

Ha; I’ll give it a try! Would it be ill advised to put it into PET or would the roots or lack there of or damage dictate that?

I think you'll want to wait to next year. The current roots are too long and I think you'll set the plant back at this point.

[Dorchid]

Very good; Appreciate the advice!

[Dorchid]

There is a significant amount of what appears to be viable roots though they are from last year’s pbulb. The new growth is sending out new roots but the longest I can see is only about 2”. I’m guessing we want those new roots to grow more and should withhold water at this point?