Myrmecatavola Frances Fox potting question

[CocoSo]

Got this Myrmecatavola Frances Fox late September 2023. It was in sphagnum which is not good for me as I know I’m heavy handed with water. I repotted it in Orchiata as you can see in the picture, but obviously I did it with one eye crossed or something because it ended up leaning like a drunken duck. It was my first Catt type and I had this idea that I was going to kill it just by looking at it. Duh. As it was most of the roots were rotten and soft and I was probably more traumatized than the plant giving them all the chop. Since then it’s taken off like a weed, new growth, masses of roots, feisty thing. So, here’s the question; It’s leaning like a mad thing and the roots are above, below and sticking out the sides. Do I repot again (upright this time) or wait, see if the latest growth will bloom and then do it afterwards? Everywhere I read that Catts hate to be disturbed. Of course I’d like to see it bloom but I’d much rather it be happy and healthy so I’ll do whatever is best for the plant. Advice anyone? Thanks for your help.

[estación seca]

I would leave it alone. The time to repot is when new roots are only 1-2 millimeters long. Repotting damages older roots, and if the plant isn't actively growing roots when you repot, it may have trouble taking up water for a long time.

I don't think it's big enough to flower yet. Probably soon.

[Roberta]

When you do repot, be ready to sacrifice the pot, since roots are growing through the drainage holes. Preserving good roots is the goal... pots are cheap. In fact, a trick that I have used when I have had a plant outgrowing a pot, or growing through holes, etc. and not being at the right time for proper potting: Cut the pot near (but not too close to) the actively growing part (in more than one place if you can) being careful to not cut roots , so that roots can escape if they want to. If the pot is too tough for clippers, tin snips work on nearly everything. Then plop the whole thing - plant and cut pot - in a basket or larger pot, with just enough large bark to hold things in place. Positiion it with the oldest part (with pot) against one side of the receiving pot/basket to maximize growth space. The plant very likely will grow nicely into the extra space. In a few years, the part in the original pot will be pretty much done (shriveled, leafless back bulbs with dead roots) and can just be removed - the new part won't miss a beat, I agree with ES, it's getting close, but likely needs to grow a bit more before blooming.

[Keysguy]

I will give you a different spin albeit understand that I have a very different growing environment than you do.

Things I would consider;
a) it is still very early in the growing season. The roots you have will lengthen and it is likely you'll have new roots yet to start.
b) Frances Fox is very, VERY vigorous. It is also top heavy and puts out spikes that can be 3 feet long and bloom for months. Mine starts in Jan and just dropped its last flower a week ago. My guess is that is probably about when your new growths will bloom. I doubt very much they are imminent.
c) if you are lucky enough to get more new growth in that pot, they are going to grow out in the opposite direction of the main plant. They will seek "up".

If it were mine I would cut it out of that pot NOW (cut the pot, not the plant as Roberta said) and disturb the roots as little as possible while you do it trying to hold the existing media in place.
Place it in a suitably sized (tough to tell what that would be from the picture) terracotta clay pot. A little fresh media in the bottom then place your plant (upright), media and all as it came out of the plastic pot, in the new pot. As you do this hold a stake with the plant then back fill media as necessary around the plant. Compress just enough to steady it trying not to crush any roots. Get a twist tie long enough to go around all bulbs and the stake and tie it all together. Resume your normal culture.

The objective here is to get it straightened out before it becomes impossible without cutting tissue and give it stability. This will accomplish several things including preventing it from growing sideways any further, keeping the roots from being moved about while it re-establishes itself and the clay pot will give the whole plant further stability to offset the height and weight of the plant itself.

I know some here will have a stroke hearing this but it's what I would do. To wait means you have to wait until the next growth cycle which is almost a year away. It will be 2x the problem it is now and between now and then how many times is it going to get bumped and knocked over and damaged even if you were to just set it into a larger, heavier pot as is?

Just my 2 cents.

[Steve83]

My advice is similar to Keysguy. I'd give it a good drink with Kelpak, then two days later carefully cut away the plastic pot, and move into terracotta as described above. Myrmecophila hybrids are not as touchy as bifoliate Cattleyas when it comes to repotting.

Use a rhizome clip or stake so it can't wobble in the new pot. New growths will orient themselves "upright".

[Keysguy]

Use a rhizome clip or stake so it can't wobble in the new pot

Good suggestion. Do both and you have an insurance policy.

[CocoSo]

Thanks so much for the great advice. It's been incredibly helpful. In the end I did a bit of a hybrid repot, cutting away most of the plastic pot (3/4) and removing all the Orchiata that wasn't attached to any roots. It was madly attached to the bottom so I cut through the slots without touching the roots to give it space to grow out. It is now is a large wooden basket in lava rock. It's been a few weeks and it hasn't skipped a beat. There is more root growth and the newest leaf has grown and is definitely the largest and fattest one on the plant. It's super steady in the basket, not a wobble in sight. Hopefully I won't have to disturb it for a few years and there will be flowers once it's mature.

[Keysguy]

I'm not sure a hanging basket was the right choice but you'll know the answer to that in a couple years and you can let us know.

[CocoSo]

Originally Posted by Keysguy

I'm not sure a hanging basket was the right choice but you'll know the answer to that in a couple years and you can let us know.

It seems to be a beast of a plant so I imagine/hope that in a couple of years it'll be too heavy to hang. There is a steel shelving rack right beside it and it'll probably end up sitting on that. Orchids are great teachers. I'm learning, albeit slowly.

[WaterWitchin]

I think your hybrid repotting was a great choice! Good job!