Dendrobium Roy Tokunaga

[Mugsie]

I have a few questions on this guy. I purchased him about 3-4 months ago and he was in a small 2-3" pot. I transplanted him into a 6" pot in for bark, sphagnum moss and pearlite. He currently was indoors, but I've moved him into my hobby GH outside. It's very humid in there, and I keep it moist and fertilized. My question is about it's potting. The roots are growing like crazy! The pot is a clear orchid pot with multiple holes in the sides. The roots are throughout the media and growing through the holes and outside and up the pot. Does it need a larger pot? That's my question.
Thanks all....

[Roberta]

It's clearly happy, so I would inclined, instead if up-potting it, just drop it into a larger pet. Since these tend to become top-heavy beasts, I'd suggest a terracotta pot - either just let it have air between the "inner" pot and the outer one, or perhaps fill in with large bark. You don't want to get into the overpotted situation where there is an airless, wet lump in the middle. This scenario will let you keep the roots more or less under control, while providing them with plenty of air.

[Mugsie]

Thanks Roberta. I've never had an orchid grow roots so quickly and fill up a pot so fast, so I didn't know if I was to just continually up potting, or just let it become really root bound. A conundrum for sure.

[skirincich]

I would not repot it until the next new emerging growth is either pushing on or very near to the pot. Generally, the dendrobiums do not like having their roots disturbed and do best with the smallest pot possible. The latouria dendrobiums may be more tolerant since they do not need complete drying in between waterings. I would not judge the need for repotting based on the roots.

[estación seca]

This group can do fine in a very small pot if watering is adequate. Your conditions sound near perfect. A couple of master growers in my local society don't ever unpot their Latourias. They do what Roberta said, drop it into the next sized pot and backfill. They use polished medium aquarium pebbles but I don't think the medium is very important.

[Ben_in_North_FLA]

a picture would provide more on point feedback.
Have recently become a fan of latouria dens, great little plants with flower that are very long lasting.
Great catch....