New plant....what to do

[vjo]

I just bought a Psychopsis Kalihi from an on-line vendor.It is a very healthy looking plant. It really looks like it should be re potted but it is in spike and I dont know if I should wait or what. It is in spike but it has so many roots that the pot has split. What to do, what to do?Any help out there? Thanks.....Jean

[glengary54]

vjo - If you wait until it is out of spike to repot, you will be waiting quite a long time, Psycopsis rebloom from the same spike (don't ever cut) and can be in bloom almost continuously for a number of years. They don't like to have their roots disturb to much, if I were you I would up pot it to just a slightly larger pot, set the rootball of the plant in it without disturbing the roots and add the same type of media that it is already growing in around the plant.

[Carpe Diem]

I bought a Psychopsis Kalihi on ebay last summer, 2 new growth started, 2 flower spikes, beautiful plant. I immediatly took it out of the pot, cleaned the roots, repotted in a new, clear plastic pot with Onc. mix. The 2 little growth are now matured and both spikes have buds. On the fatter bud I can see color now. I don't know if the repotting set the plant back or if it usually takes this long for the flowers to develope. I am amazed that I've even kept it alive - beginners luck. When I get to know my new camera I will take pictures and learn how to post them.
vjo, I hope your wait for flowers is not as long as mine, but I think it's worth it, even if it takes month.
I am super excited!

[camille1585]

Like Glen says, if you wait for it to stop blooming before repotting, it could very well be years. It's needs a new pot, so you might as well do it right away.

I waited 3 months for the spike to finally produce buds on mine (Psychopsis Butterfly) and in the warm months I get a new bud every 4 weeks or so, and every 2 months during the dreary winter months. Unfortunately the latest one just blasted....

[Bud]

I had my spiking kalihi repotted immediately but I made sure it was soaked wet, so the roots are maleable and soft...I gently eased it out of the plastic pot and the whole bunch transferred from a 4 inch to a 5 inch and the spaces filled in with seedling Phal media mix of small bark, lava rocks, hydroton and charcoal...I am still waiting for the buds to open and I will post pictures.

[camille1585]

I don't look forward to the day that I must repot mine. It's growing in a net pot with chunky bark, placed in a clear pot. It absolutely thrives potted up that way, but it's going to be a nightmare cutting it out of the net pot. How often do these guys need repotting?

[Bud]

Camille, the answer is: as needed. Since its in a net pot, I guess you need to put it inside a bigger pot without even bothering with the old; like I do with some of my large Catts...the roots will find its way on its own and probably integrate the plastic to the new media

[Leafmite]

My little one is in lava rock/net pot...I plan to just drop it in a larger pot someday with more lava rock.

[vjo]

Thank you everyone for all the good info.I cant really tell what media it is in so will have improvise on that, I will try not to disturb the roots which looks as tho it shouldnt be too hard as they just stay in a nice pot shape when I lift them out of the pot. Wish me luck. And thanks again... Jean

[Daethen]

Well, I might be too late on this subject, but I have 2 baby albas and have repotted them both. One by choice and one fell on the floor. They both took right off. I also have 2 older ones. The one in double spike I have not bothered to repot yet and my other (an alba) is just growing it's first spike. I have found they don't seem to be bothered that much by repotting if you are gentle when you do it.