Wooden baskets engulfed by large cattleyas - is Repotting even possible?

[DirtyCoconuts]

very nice!! that is a HAPPY orchid.

is the inner basket resting on the bottom of the larger one or is it suspended somehow? in the 'below' pics it appears to float

[piping plover]

Thank you! Yes, good observation. I recall that some of the growths protruded in a way that I could not rest the inner basket squarely on the outer basket. I let it rest where it felt stable. Using wire, I threaded it through the basket hanger eyelets on the corners of the baskets; binding the inner basket to the outer one. So, in areas the inner basket is suspended but tightly bound. My idea is that eventually the roots will bind the 2 baskets by the time the wire rusts away.

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

very nice!! that is a HAPPY orchid.

is the inner basket resting on the bottom of the larger one or is it suspended somehow? in the 'below' pics it appears to float

[DirtyCoconuts]

Well played! I like that idea to avoid crushing any roots too.

[piping plover]

Here is the 2nd of the 2 large cattleyas to bloom. The white was the first. This purple bloomed a month later than usual, but I can’t complain. I bought a 15” basket for this purple one and will likely transfer the current basket into the larger one as I did for the white Catt. Photo below

[DirtyCoconuts]

Wow. Look at that fat lip!!

Like it lost a boxing match !!

Amazing blooms

[piping plover]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

Wow. Look at that fat lip!!

Like it lost a boxing match !!

Amazing blooms

LOL, I appreciate your sense of humor and thanks for the kind words! I purchased that orchid 30 yrs ago when I was a college student. Most $$ I ever paid for an orchid, and as a broke college student it must have cost a month’s wages. Unfortunately, I lost the name tag eons ago and can’t tell anyone the name. The most reliable bloomer though.

[piping plover]

This orchid, Blc Blanche Aisaka 'Yuki' FCC/AOS, was growing in a 6" wooden basket and only one quarter of the basket was alive and healthy. Or barely alive. I used a hack saw to cut out from the basket the one healthy corner and planted the ¼ basket piece directly into a clay pot. I originally had this orchid in a clay pot, so thought I’d try that again. Below are the pics of (1) the orchid in the basket prior to repotting; (2) the salvaged cut – out piece for repotting; and (3) the repotted ¼ piece planted in the clay pot (4 & 5) the blooming orchid in happier times.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Well played

[piping plover]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

Well played

Thank you!

[DirtyCoconuts]

And thank you for the excellent photo essay. It is so great to be able to see everything as described.

I’m a simple man who likes his pictures books, what can I say lol