To repot or not to repot

[Orchonubee]

My question is do I repot now, just after my Blc hausermann 'chip' finishes blooming, or do I wait until the spring? It's growing out of it's 10" pot.

[Tindomul]

I would suggest waiting till it puts on some kind of active growth, especially new root growth. Is it going to do that once It finishes blooming?

[justatypn]

It is best to repot after flowering, spring time or just before new roots sprout from the rhizomes. Repotting is necessary when rhizomes of the plant protrudes over the edge of the pot, potting medium is breaking down and or poor drainage which usually happens after 2-3 years. If the plant has 6 or more mature pseudobulbs and potting in course medium. If dividing the plant there should be three to five pseudobulbs per division. Make sure you barefoot the plant before placing in fresh medium. When deciding what pot size, allow approximately 2 years of growth, spreading the fresh roots and making sure the rhizomes are against the side of the pot. Keep the plant humid, dry at the roots until you can visually see new growth.

[Orchonubee]

Make sure you barefoot the plant before placing in fresh medium

Thank you so much Cheryl. There are about 30 pseudo bulbs, and it's growing out of the pot on two sides. Every thing was quite clear execpt the underlined sentence above. What does barefoot the plant mean? How do I do that?

[Orchonubee]

Well I got the answer to my questions from Joe Grezaffi, the noted orchidist from Melbourne, Fl. I called him about an orchid I purchesed a few years ago, a C. paula grezaffi (named after his sister).
Regarding whether to divide for not to divide? He told me that if the orchid shows no new root growth, wait till mid March on our area before dividing. He also kind of answered the question regarding barefooting, which he wasn't familiar with, but he said they probably meant barerooting.

[justatypn]

Sorry Orchonubee for not responding, missed this post along the way...yep I call it barefoot rooting and some call it bare-root...the same regardless. He gave you great advise...

[Orchonubee]

No problem Cheryl, it was kind of you to respond with excellent guidance. Adding to my last post, Joe Grezaffi also gave me some good advice regarding sterilization of the tools. I have been very lax in this regards. Last year I went to Joe's green house, and purchased a C gaskelliana alba which has bloomed twice now. I think it's the orchid I prize most.