repotting the order of the day

[terracotta7]

A great, big thank you to all Orchid Board members! I started out the day with 16 orchid pots and now I have 23. Even though it is not optimal potting time, I decided today was a good day to get some den. proud appeal 'Ace" keikis into 2 inch pots of their own,to put 2 NoID phals that I received for my birthday from decaying moss to bark mix, and divide a third NoID phal that had three plants together. One only had one nice fat juicy root when I pulled it away from the other two.
I felt as if I heard your voices as I repotted these orchids: "presoak your medium", "sterilize your equipment", "cut off the blackened and flattened roots", "choose the smallest pot that will accommodate the roots", "use bamboo skewers to anchor the plant"...
I only broke off 2 small root tips from one of the phals. I hope that is OK.
I joined OB in 12/11 and, although I do not post much, I do read new posts almost every day and I have been reading everything I can about potting and caring for each kind of the orchids that I have. I have learned so much from each of you and I just wanted to say thanks and let you know that I am trying to learn as much as I can from those who have so much more experiance than I have.

My children tease me that I am "The Woman that Time Forgot" so joining the forum has been a big deal to me. I was reading the other day how to post pictures and I would like to do that sometime, but I think I will have to have my kids help me if I do that.

By the way, I am excited to say that my Onc. Green Valley Sweet"Heavenly" has a nice big spike and my catts Blc 'Southern Cross' and 'Marcella Koss Pink Marvel' and all my dendrobiums have new growth, too. For a beginner, I feel very blessed.

[silken]

Sounds like you have become a full fledged 'Orchaholic"! I'll be looking forward to photos from you in the future!

[billc]

It sounds like you're off to a great start to a very rewarding hobby. There are some, usually spouses or significant others, that consider our hobby a weird obsession. But we know better!

Bill

[terracotta7]

Lol! Come to think of it, I did hear the word "obsessed" used a few times recently. I just reply that it isn't an obsession...it's "therapy"!

[johnblagg]

LOL you go ...but I have to say Im not that big a believer in the smallest pot they will fit in myself.
I go with a pot that will hold them for at least two years since I use hydrotron,with bark or moss smaller is better but with hydrotron you dont have that issue

[Merlyn]

I only broke off 2 small root tips from one of the phals. I hope that is OK.

Happens all the time. The broken roots COULD start a new active branch or not. If not, they are still what is known as 'passive active' which means that they still actively transfer liquids back to the plant but are no longer actively growing. Not a big deal either way so don't worry !

[Hedge]

Terracotta &, somewhere on this site is a link to a video of a professional trades person repotting Phals wwhere they take the pre soaked Phal out of its pot, straighten out the roots and then cut off everything longer than 6 inches before repotting into a clean pot - as long as you hold back on too much watering for a few weeks the roots will stand anything like a couple of broken tips, so don't worry, you are doing fine

You say your children tease you about your lack of technological know how - but hey you are growing beautiful plants!!

[terracotta7]

Thanks everyone for your encouragement and advice.
I was interested in the health of the roots of the different plants as I repotted. The ones that I had previously done in fir bark were all very firm and healthy looking, even if I had previously put them in a bigger pot than I maybe should have. I thought that was a good sign.
Some of those that had recently been given to me and were in moss were no so good.
I think my take-away is that I need to water more according to the medium that each orchid is in, instead of just watering all of them the same way at the same time. (I guess I must be both perceptive and flexible!)
@john blagg: What is hydrotron?

[Discus]

Originally Posted by terracotta7

What is hydrotron?

Well done on all your repotting

Hydroton is a product made out of clay - looks like little teracotta balls; it's one of a group of media referred to as "LECA" (Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate). It's inorganic, so it doesn't degrade. Some people use it as a "traditional" potting medium; others use it with a technique called "semi-hydro".

[Vanda lover]

I like hydroton but I've never been able to tell how often to water a plant that is in it. With s/h it is self watering. I don't like to have to water every day if it isn't necessary.