I think my oncidium really appreciated this re-potting

[Daenerys]

I picked up a gorgeous noid oncidium last year at a farmer's market. Its spike was nearly 5 feet high and full of flowers! The next year I was hoping for a rebloom, but the plant aborted its flower spike. I started getting suspicious when I noticed that its most recent pseudobulb was half the size of the older ones, and more wrinkled than the ones I've been seeing on pictures from this board.

When I took the plant out of its 8 inch pot... it came right of out the pot, with a mass of dead roots molded into the shape of a 5 inch pot. And buried in that mass... was a 2.5 inch plastic pot covering base of the oldest pseudobulb! This orchid hasn't been properly repotted since its very first deflasking! Now, a few weeks since that re-potting experience, I'm greeted with nearly a dozen green new root tips bursting out of the newest growth. The new leaves seem to be growing better as well. Never have I seen a plant so happy to be re-potted.

[tucker85]

Excellent job. It looks like a happy plant to me.

[Zoi2]

I agree, it sure looks happy now!
Joann

[camille1585]

Looks like a very very happy plant! I've noticed that too on some orchids I repotted that badly needed it, but not as amazing as yours. Took them more than a few weeks to show their appreciation!

[glengary54]

Daenerys - We see so many tales of woe on this Board that it is always nice to hear of someones sucess. Kudos on a job well done. Orchids tell us in their own way that they need help or attention, we just need to learn to speak their language.

[Kelo]

It's loving the change!

[RosieC]

Does look happy

[Ray]

Most plants respond well to a periodic repot, even if it's not a potential root rot issue.

Whenever a plant absorbs a nutrient ion, it emits a compensatory one to keep the charge balanced within its root system. That, and the byproducts of the plant's other biological processes lead to the accumulation of wastes in the pot.

The poor plant has been "pooping in its own mess kit".

Wouldn't you respond well, if all of that waste was removed from your immediate environment? That, but the way, is another reason to flush pots heavily and often, to help keep it cleaner, longer.

[DelawareJim]

I discovered a similar situation with a Phal I was given to resuscitate. It was packed really tightly in sphagnum in one of those one-piece perforated glazed pot and saucers, and clearly suffering even though the moss looked new. I decided to repot it in bark and when I prised it out of the pot, and peeled away the sphagnum, I discovered a clear plastic 2 inch net pot and a moss root ball that was half rotted and half as hard as concrete. I had to cut off the pot, soak it in the sink and spray the sludge out of the roots to repot. Within 2 week of repotting in bark, it looks as good as new.

Cheers.
Jim

[Charmkp]

Good growing. It certainly appreciates the repotting.