Repotting Plant with Abundant Air Roots

[Clawhammer]

As you may have seen in my Carmela review I got an incredible deal where I basically got this Pot. Haw Yuan Gold 'YK No.2' for $8 delivered to my door. Turns out when I got to looking at it close it is actually 2 plants, a seedling and a blooming size plant. The big plant grew out of its little 2.5" pot and into it's neighbor's pot.

Since the big plant grew out of the little pot so long ago most of the roots (all the newer roots) are air roots. I would imagine they would rot if I buried them.

Any advice on how to repot?

[Roberta]

I can't say what would work best for you, but if this were my plant I'd go with the flow... clearly it didn't particularly want to be in a pot. I'd drop the whole thing (remove the plastic pot to get it out of the way if you can easily do so) into a wood basket, fill in around it with large bark, and hang it up. That will leave plenty of air for the roots that are adapted to air, permit you to get a little more moisture around it, and figure that any new roots will grow either into the bark or wrap around the basket. What a spectacular plant!

[Clawhammer]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I can't say what would work best for you, but if this were my plant I'd go with the flow... clearly it didn't particularly want to be in a pot. I'd drop the whole thing (remove the plastic pot to get it out of the way if you can easily do so) into a wood basket, fill in around it with large bark, and hang it up. That will leave plenty of air for the roots that are adapted to air, permit you to get a little more moisture around it, and figure that any new roots will grow either into the bark or wrap around the basket. What a spectacular plant!

Done!

Thanks Roberta, great idea! I actually had this sitting around waiting for a plant. I picked all the old bark out with tweezers. I water these plants daily in the morning, hope this guy will adapt well.

[DirtyCoconuts]

well done...i might have gone with a big -sih terracotta pot but this is equally well done
may she be very happy in there for many many years

[Dollythehun]

I recently used that method. The plant is VERY happy.

[Clawhammer]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

well done...i might have gone with a big -sih terracotta pot but this is equally well done
may she be very happy in there for many many years

That is exactly what I was about to do! This solution though was too serendipitous. I don't really have room for it in my Cattleya section anyway.

[Dorchid]

Wow!

[Jeff214]

Looks perfect in that basket!

[Clawhammer]

14 months later....

Super fragrant. Love everything about this hybrid

Thanks again to Roberta for the guidance

[IMG]Untitled by Eric, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]Untitled by Eric, on Flickr[/IMG]

[Roberta]

Glad that it worked out! It is gorgeous. I assume that is the main plant? Were you able to get the "bonus" seedling going?