Indoor Zygopetalum

[burz]

I only found one thread on re-potting Zygopetalum. I got one a few weeks ago and I think I should re-pot it so I can know what mix its in for sure. It's in a 3 inch wide and 4 inch deep square plastic pot. It has 5 psuedo bulbs one completely above the medium with aerial roots and it's roughly two feet tall and kind of wobbly.

I'm becoming more familiar with my phals, do I follow any of the same practices with a zygo?

After reading around different places a few sources say its semi terrestrial and should be potted in half phal mix and half potting soil and a few say its an epiphyte and should be potted and watered like a phal.

Researching orchids(I'm a newbie) using potting soil sounds absurd from what most people say, but information on zygos so far for me has been limited and confusing.

And I don't want to separate it I would like it to get as big as it can get. Any pot size, shape and medium suggestions for an indoor application would be tremendous.

Thanks for any feedback in advance.

[orchidsarefun]

I have about a dozen zygo hybrids and they are my favourite orchid species.
Repot using a medium bark mix. Make sure they receive plenty of light, preferably dappled sunlight and air movement ( but no draft ) I water 1x per week - allowing warm ( aquarium temp ) water to drain out the bottom. Fertilise weakly, weekly. Allow about 1 inch growth leeway around the pot.
The only real difference to phal culture is that they definitely prefer cooler temperatures. Around 58-66f at night if possible. The daytime temp doesn't appear to be that critical, though obviously not permanently above 85-90f. Outdoors them in Summer. If you are lucky and get the cultural requirements right, they will flower 2x per year.

[burz]

Thank you. Exactly what I wanted to hear.lol

Should the planting depth be at the new pseudo bulb? Its about an inch above the rest of them.

[orchidsarefun]

Originally Posted by burz

Thank you. Exactly what I wanted to hear.lol

Should the planting depth be at the new pseudo bulb? Its about an inch above the rest of them.

you should replant at the same level.
Zygo's don't seem to mind - 3 of mine I repotted had bulbs on top of the older bulbs, so the older ones were completely buried, but still green and hard.
When I repot, I take a 1/3 of the rootball off the bottom with a sharp knife. When I mentioned this previously, a lot of people here were upset. LOL. I do it anyway because it works for me and most importantly the plants. You have a nice size zygo. My slightly larger - 8 pbulbs - Louisendorff is in a 6in pot and about ready to repot.

[ginnibug]

Sorry I saw this post so late.

Zygos are pretty darn hardy as long as you have good p bulbs and don't water your leaves. I always water these guys from the bottom. Orchidsarefun uses bark, I use promix with extra junk mixed in, so everybody is different. You have use what works for you. And I have had to bury older pbulbs in the pot also. It amazes me what these guys will tolerate. ginnibug