How tightly do you pack your medium?

[silken]

Originally Posted by Paul

Not terribly tightly. I find that plants stay too wet too long for me if I do.

Well, there is that issue too. what about air pockets for the roots?? If it is extremely tight it might as well be soil-not???

[got ants]

It all depends on what type of orchids I'm potting. And let me preface this by noting I grow outdoors 365, with shade, and open to rain. AND, I live in south Florida where monsson rains of a week or more is not uncommon.

With catts, I use a mix of charcoal, leca or staylite, sponge rock, and maybe CHC, in traditional clay pots.

With oncidiums, I use more bark mix, and in baskets, some are plastic.

Other genera generally in mostly bark mixes.

Catts are packed hard, oncidiums medium, and others loosely.

On all plants, it is imperative the once repotted, the plant does not move at all. This may mean more rhizome clips, or even wired down into the pot/basket. The litimous test is lifting the plant by the leaves and having the pot stay on. Once new root growth starts, any movement of the plant with impede it, so no movement is best.

[Cym Ladye]

I have found what genera you are potting and what media you are using dictates how hard you pack. That said, the plant should not wiggle in the pot when you are finished. Tapping the sides of the pot ensures the mix (if other than moss) gets around the roots and tamping with a tool or merely pressing with your fingers around the edges of the pot should be the goal. As to how hard to pack, I use this test on my Cymbidiums: gently lift the plant by the base of the leaves and if the pot does not fall off you should be good.

CL

[Call_Me_Bob]

thats how i test too! and then i dunk under water. and if any bark floats, take it out, and see how much is left. and add more if needed

[isurus79]

The golden rule that I have always been taught is that after potting you should be able to pick up the plant, not supporting the pot and it should all come together as one. That is how tight it needs to be. Needless to say I cram the media in pretty tightly. You can prevent roots from breaking by soaking them for 4 or 5 minutes to make them rubbery. Don't worry about snapping roots because you should be repotting as the new ones are just breaking out of the new growth. Orchid roots are designed to be destroyed after only a brief period which is why they put out a fresh new set with every new growth.

[Call_Me_Bob]

i am a bit more careful on small plants or keikis that have few roots. or ones with roots

[silken]

Well, I re potted a Nobile dendrobium today and actually picked up the plant and the pot and contents came with it I didn't tempt fate by holding the plant up for too long or shaking it or anything!

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by silken

Well, I re potted a Nobile dendrobium today and actually picked up the plant and the pot and contents came with it I didn't tempt fate by holding the plant up for too long or shaking it or anything!

Good thing too!!

[cythaenopsis]

I would think that very tightly packed is not a good thing, as the roots need some room to grow. Plus, if the potting mix is too densely packed, won't that promote root rot?

[Kelo]

If you use something like chunky bark there isn't a problem. I wouldn't do it with fine grade medium