Dendrobium Blue Seas (Antennatum hybrid) - Do I need to repot?

[sephirothlq]

Hi everyone,

I recently bought this plant at an orchid show and noticed that the initial growth of the plant happens to be under the 'soil' level as seen in the attached pictures.

Do I need to take the orchid out of the pot and relevel it so that the bottom of the lowest growth is at soil level?

The orchid seems to be potted in a mix of bark, sponge rock and some packing peanuts at the bottom of the pot.

I'm not too sure how long it has been down there, but my main worry is wetting the growth when watering the plant. Is there a possibility for rot to occur if the growth gets wet? I'm not too familiar with growing dendrobiums.

[Ray]

What you circled appears to be a root.

[estación seca]

The youngest growth is the smaller one leaning away from the flower buds. New growths originate from the base of older growths; they are bright green from the start.

Most Dendrobiums will lose their flowers if repotted in bud, so don't do that. The time to repot is when you see new roots just emerging from the base of the newest growth. When new, roots are shiny white with bright green tips.

The medium looks good to me, and the pot is the right size for that plant. I would not repot until sometime in spring 2023 or 2024, depending on how much it grows this year.

This kind of Den. hybrid likes bright light, with warmth and water through the year. Water less in winter but don't stop. When making new growths, like now, don't let it get completely dry. Fertilize regularly while making new growth, and don't fertilize when not in growth.

[sephirothlq]

Originally Posted by Ray

What you circled appears to be a root.

Sorry if it the image wasn't too clear.

If you look reaaaaally closely behind the root, there is one of those tiny canes with a dried sheath. Most likely the 'oldest' cane.

If you look at the zoomed in image it should be easier to see: https://i.imgur.com/0paQzRv.jpg

If it happens to be the shortest/oldest shriveled cane, are there any worries of getting it wet?

[estación seca]

No, just soak the whole pot contents when you wster.

[Grim Tuesday]

Originally Posted by estación seca

The youngest growth is the smaller one leaning away from the flower buds. New growths originate from the base of older growths; they are bright green from the start.

Most Dendrobiums will lose their flowers if repotted in bud, so don't do that. The time to repot is when you see new roots just emerging from the base of the newest growth. When new, roots are shiny white with bright green tips.

My dendrobium tobanese is putting out buds at precisely the same time as new roots from new growths. Is it possible to repot and save the flowers? Or do I need to sacrifice flowers in years I want to repot?

[Roberta]

Definitely wait for the flowers, you have earned them! I'd hold off a few weeks on the repot to enjoy them.

[sephirothlq]

I decided not to repot and just leave the plant be while it flowered. Here is a picture with all the flowers open.

[sephirothlq]

I'm back again to ask whether I should repot this dendrobium. This time I have a new growth that is growing at the edge of the pot and half of the roots are growing outside of the pot.

Would this be a good time to repot?

[Roberta]

Definitely time to repot. The outer (clear) pot is about the right size - put the oldest growth against the back side of the pot to maximize the growing space for the new one and for subsequent growths.