Repot? rossioglossum rawdon jester

[Asca]

So I've had this rossioglossum rawdon jester for about a month and a half. It was in flower when I baught it and still is. It looks like it needs space. I've noticed when water that the water doesn't really go into the pot so much as spill over the top. It does have two new growths on it too, so I would like now before the growths get any bigger. But the other option is to leave it. Any thoughts?

[fishmom]

The bulbs are not dessicated, so I'd guess the plant is getting enough water. If you can't wait until the bloom is over, you could take the root ball out of the pot intact and drop the whole thing inside a slightly larger pot, adding medium on the sides. Personally, I would wait for the blooms to drop, though. Water with an occasional soaking if you are worried.

[MrHappyRotter]

Good luck! I recommend using a mix that resists breaking down. Either something inorganic or something that lasts awhile. And wait until you see the new growths start to produce new roots. That's typically your best chance at success.

These are notorious for sulking after being repotted, and they also do not tolerate a stale mix. Mine has been the epitome of finicky. It gets big, happy, healthy, and then blooms. Usually by that point it has grown so much it needs to be repotted. I'll wait until new growths appear and they begin producing new roots, then repot. The plant ends up deteriorating a bit, skips a year or so of blooming, then slowly builds back up.

Some of it may be climate, some of it may be care. I've repotted mine at least a few times since I got it many years ago and still haven't quite figured out the secret. Because of their finicky reputation, I'm honestly just glad I've been able to keep my plant alive for as long as I have and that I've managed to rebloom it a few times. I consider that an accomplishment.

[Asca]

Originally Posted by fishmom

The bulbs are not dessicated, so I'd guess the plant is getting enough water. If you can't wait until the bloom is over, you could take the root ball out of the pot intact and drop the whole thing inside a slightly larger pot, adding medium on the sides. Personally, I would wait for the blooms to drop, though. Water with an occasional soaking if you are worried.

That was my plan, to just plop it into a bigger pot an add bark chips around. I'm going to wait for the blossoms to drop for sure.

Originally Posted by MrHappyRotter

Good luck! I recommend using a mix that resists breaking down. Either something inorganic or something that lasts awhile. And wait until you see the new growths start to produce new roots. That's typically your best chance at success.

Suggestions? All I have is bark chips, fine grade perlite (too fine the stuff used for bonsai) and the expanded clay. Both new growths do have one new root each.

Originally Posted by MrHappyRotter

These are notorious for sulking after being repotted, and they also do not tolerate a stale mix. Mine has been the epitome of finicky. It gets big, happy, healthy, and then blooms. Usually by that point it has grown so much it needs to be repotted. I'll wait until new growths appear and they begin producing new roots, then repot. The plant ends up deteriorating a bit, skips a year or so of blooming, then slowly builds back up.

Some of it may be climate, some of it may be care. I've repotted mine at least a few times since I got it many years ago and still haven't quite figured out the secret. Because of their finicky reputation, I'm honestly just glad I've been able to keep my plant alive for as long as I have and that I've managed to rebloom it a few times. I consider that an accomplishment.

I've read as much. I watched a video on repotting Rossioglosum and he says to use a stick and poke out the old media, don't rake out the roots, and disturb them as little as possible. Is this your experience too?

Origonally I had planned on trying to mount it on cork. Basically I made a net out of wire that is attached to the bottom of the cork slab. Then repot into a larger pot but with one side and bottom cut out. That way the new growth is as close a possible to the bark. Then add bark around the gaps and bottom, lastly cover everything in live moss. Its what I did with my oncidiums (though they arn't as petulant). The idea being in the future I can gradually remove media a little at a time while the new growths continue to move up the bark. The more I read the more this sounds like a terrible idea.

Quick question. One of the new growths is growing between three other old pseudo bulbs, there is no physical way it can grow outward, there isn't enough room it can only grow up. It's crammed down deep though. judging by the size of the others I don't see how it can grow in such a small space, or with it gradually push itself up and out?

Another question. I'm guessing I already know the answer to this. Has anyone tried dividing a Rossoglosium? My guess is its a bad idea, i'm not going to try but I am curious.