C. Chocolate Drop

[Dulcinea]

I’ve attached photos of C. Chocolate Chip. It’s really outgrowing it pot but until I gave it away a few years ago it only had empty sheaths. The friend gave it back over a year ago because she couldn’t lift it any more. It bloomed for me on two canes two months ago. Now it needs repotting and I’m afraid to do it because it will probably stop blooming. Any ideas?

I don’t know if you can see it but it has two new growths. One about 4-5” a d another just starting. Also, when is the best time to repot it?

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Dulcinea

I’m afraid to do it because it will probably stop blooming.

Dulcinea ----- the conditions for becoming afraid should only if an orchid goes backwards (in terms of health). Not if an orchid doesn't bloom.

In my tropical conditions - I repot at any time I want - regardless of whether new roots are emerging or not.

A good recommendation offered by growers for times to repot ---- is when new roots just begin to emerge. Can definitely follow that approach. You could repot now if you like ------ being gentle as possible on the roots.

[Dulcinea]

Thank you!

[SouthPark]

Also ------ check lighting levels and lighting duration, and colour of the leaves. If relatively dark leaves, then maybe not enough light.

[Dulcinea]

Did I ever goof up! I meant Chocolate Drop!

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Dulcinea

Did I ever goof up! I meant Chocolate Drop!

That was really disappointing Dulcinea. Choc chip just sounds so much better.

[Dulcinea]

Lol! It does to me too. I'm a chocoholic so I know just how that slip up happened. 😂

[Roberta]

Mmmm.... Ctt. Chocolate Drop is soooo fragrant! As with any orchid, the ideal time for repotting is just as new roots are starting. (Look for new roots not new growth) That way, if some of the more established roots get damaged (probably inevitable) there will be fresh new ones that will establish in the new medium very quickly as they emerge. Now... I think that you will not be able to get that plant out of the pot without damage to something... the plant or the pot or both. My prejudice... the plant is precious, the pot is replaceable and therefore expendable. So, when you're ready to do it, get out your hammer, break the pot. Shake off what comes off easily. Where shards are stuck to good roots, just leave them. Even if you end up with most of the pot stuck to roots, you will have opened things up for roots to grow into the new medium... put into a larger pot with large bark or other fast-draining medium of choice. The plant will probably respond nicely and likely not even miss a blooming.

[Dulcinea]

You are right on! No worry at all about the pot

I have a different orchid with no room to grow but I can’t see even one root. I’ve enclosed pics. It’s tag says 2015 sudermerlycaste fragrans. It has never bloomed and has two dead/dying pseudobulbs with one trying to grow. It was loose in the pot last year early fall so I repotted it and tied it into the pot. It’s in there real tight. Should I repot again tying it in, remove the old pseudobulbs and move it over to make room for the new one?

[Roberta]

I'd wait for the beginnings of a new growth - these tend to do the new growth and root at the same time. Then when you repot, you can get rid of pseudobulbs that aren't firm, or are all brown. (If they are firm and green and lack leaves they're still supplying energy to the plant. That's especially important if it's short on roots) Then re-center it, tie it down after you replace the medium and hope... I have found these to be rather irregular bloomers... they do a lot of sitting around at my house too, but occasionally I'll get flowers... After it blooms once, the odds improve for a repeat.

Oh, I also renamed the thread... when someone is searching for a plant, you'd want the name to be something they'd find. (If you want it to be Chocolate Chip, I'll put it back...)