Repotting every year?

[spes1959@gmail.com]

I read these words in Ray's newsletter

“Steve Male, who operates Fishing Creek Orchids in Harrisburg PA, is one of the best growers I’ve ever met. He has a strict regimen that involves repotting everything annually, leading to spectacular growth that has led to a stack of awards”.

But in doing so, don't you run the risk of stressing the roots too much? I have always known that it is good to wait at least a couple of years because by repotting too often the plants suffer a stress. What do you think?

[Fairorchids]

I have never discussed this with Steven Male, but a couple of specific observations:

Miltoniopsis:
These hate stale mix in the pot. Repotting annually will keep them going strong. If you don't, they tend to deteriorate rapidly after about 1.1/2 years.

Phragmipedium
These should be watered copiously. Except for caudadtum, longifolium & sargentianum, all the rest do best if standing in 1.1/2-2" (4-5 cm) deep water, permanently. As a result, a bark mix breaks down rapidly, and annual repotting is recommended. If you miss a year, they won't die, but they do not grow as well in mud.

Paphiopedilum
Mixed info on these. I find that they do OK with a 2 year re-potting cycle, but I also know that at the defunct Orchid Zone, all breeding plants were repotted annually.

There are a number of plants, which respond very poorly to repotting (disturbance of the roots):

Vandas in general, and Rhy. gigantea in particular. I now grow the latter in baskets with LECA nuggets to avoid having to repot it.

Bifoliate Cattleyas in general, and very specifically C. amethystoglossa (mine just died). This group should only be repotted when new roots are breaking, but not any longer than about 3/4".