Nearly all attempts to fit the the den into the D18 pot were thwarted by the roots, which eventually yielded and proclaimed me the victor to my skills. Or maybe it was because I accidentally broke off half the roots
The phal was uneventful. Very healthy, clean roots.
By the way, stepping on perlite is very satisfying. Breathing in perlite dust is not. Hearing roots crack is heartbreaking.
After wrapping everything up, I noticed I have a glazed ceramic pot that looks like the cymbidium style pot into which I already put some dichenbachia cuttings a couple months ago... Should I move it, or just stick with it for now that I've inadvertently root pruned?!
On the plus side, I now have two dendrobiums after one of the older canes with growth at the branching and many air roots snapped off.
I'll be happy if one of these survives
To those that have more than one orchid (I can't imagine having over 400) I commend you for the annual repottings, not easy!!
I appreciate all the help, and hope no other newbies like me have this kind of repotting to do, but just in case, maybe this will have been helpful to them.