Overgrown Catt needs some love... like NOW

[FLBob]

When I repot an oversized catt, I start by filling a 5 gal bucket with water. I add a little fertilizer, and fungicide.
I soak the plant in the bucket. Sometimes for a couple of hours. Normally the roots that are clinging to the outside of the pot can be gently worked free. They are much more pliable when they are completely saturated.
Then I work the plant out of the pot. Sometimes the pot will be sacrificed. I use a hose to wash the roots free of any potting mix. If necessary I will cut dead roots.
If I'm thinking of making a specimen plant I will move from a pot to a basket. I use landscape fabric on the bottom of the basket to keep the mix from falling out.
I use a large mix of aliflor, charcoal, spongerock and large bark. Usually I can work the mix around the roots to a point that the plant is secure, if I feel that the plant is too loose then I'll work a piece of bamboo under the top basket slat, over the rhizome, and then under the basket slat on the other side.

Here are some photos of the process, although on this operation I did divide the plant a bit.

[lostonthebeach]

Visuals are always a help. Thanks !!

[peeweelovesbooks]

FlBob, gorgeous plant!

Which one is it and what do you feed it? Small children and pets? (just kidding .....but not really.) (LOL)

It's absolutely gorgeous!!

[FLBob]

Originally Posted by peeweelovesbooks

FlBob, gorgeous plant!

Which one is it and what do you feed it? Small children and pets? (just kidding .....but not really.) (LOL)

It's absolutely gorgeous!!

The plant I pictured is Lc Mem Robert Strait 'Blue Hawaii'
I use an orchid fertilizer from sun bulb, and add plenty of Florida sunshine.

[Gwenchanter]

Thanks for all your advice! I'm going to home depot later today to get a basket and some wire! I will let you know how it all turns out.

And yeah, it doesn't get very cold here. I've been checking the temps every night because I'm chilling my phals and it hasnt been below 50 on my patio yet this winter. At 55 I sometimes throw old sheets and blankets over the benches to keep some of the plant's own heat in. Catts can take lower temps then phals and my phals are doing great (and all except three are sending out inflorescences!)

Anywhoo thanks again for all of your input. I will see if I can find some cloth at home depot to line it so that was a great tip, and I will pull off the pot and take a look at the medium before I decide what to do. I think all of you have good points, if its good medium it should stay but on the other hand it would be good to see the state of the roots and clean them up perhaps. We'll see!

Thanks FLBob for the pictures!! What a healthy looking plant! The visuals are a big help. I'm going to go soak it right now because I didn't think about that. My phals are pretty much always damp so they are pretty pliable when I repot but the Catt is pretty dry. Thanks again for the info!

-Lisa