rootbound brassavola nidosa 'Yellow Bird'

[EDDIE]

I dread repotting this little beauty!

[katrina]

Don't worry about it...it's a super tough orchid. I grew one for years...grows like a weed and is a reliable bloomer. It grew so fast I had to divide it about every 2-3 years and it never missed a bloom...even after a major dividing. Tough orchid.

FWIW - If that one were mine, I wouldn't worry about getting every piece of media loose. I would soak it overnight and try to loosen the roots and then gently work as much of the old bark out as I could w/out causing any damage. Leaving some in there won't hurt it though. After that I'd just pot it up and back fill.

BTW - your plants is Bc. Yellow Bird which is Brassavola nodosa x Bc Richard Mueller. (Richard Mueller is B. nodosa x C. milleri)

[isurus79]

Shoot, if the media between the roots is still ok, I'd just pot it in a larger pot and add new media to fill in the spaces! "Rootbound" is how these guys like to be.

[brsucculents]

Originally Posted by isurus79

Shoot, if the media between the roots is still ok, I'd just pot it in a larger pot and add new media to fill in the spaces! "Rootbound" is how these guys like to be.

That's what I was thinking. The media looks pretty good. Bigger plants are much more impressive.

[Joseia]

Any tips on how much light one of these needs? I've had one for two years and it has never bloomed for me. It grows like a weed, has tons of healthy roots, but never flowers. I've tried increasing light levels to the point where the tips got very dark and the leaf had lots of purple speckling, but still no flowers. I always had it next to my B. Little Stars, which regularly flowers. Any tips?

[EDDIE]

Joseia, mine grows well in a bay window where it gets south, southwest exposure, and like your's, mine has at times gotten very dark at the tips and a little burned but I just pull it back to where it still gets the bright light but not direct sun. I would suggest to you to leave it where it is but find some way of maybe filtering the light to where it receives bright indirect light but not full sun. Good luck!

[Daethen]

Do you let it dry out a bit between waterings, Joseia?