Drop-potting how to (with pictures)

[Bud]

I use this drop method only on sensitive roots that do not like to be disturbed.... the decayed media becomes soil like and gets flushed out of the pot quite easy if put under the sink on full throttle faucet for 5 minutes; its the tiny sensitive roots I do not dare disturb in case the plant will sulk and wont flower for me for that blooming cycle....

[Ray]

Originally Posted by brooke

Wouldn't a regular flush with water eliminate the issue of build up/waste products in a non-s/h growing situation?

I've been using LECA for several years now and only rip off the media when something has outgrown my size limit - 10" clay pot. I've never noticed any ill effects from up potting to bigger pots but do notice some decline when I divide and start over again.

Brooke

If the medium goes through wet/dry cycles, it will always build up, and flushing will never remove all of the residues. I will grant you, however, that using a very dilute fertilizer solution, and watering heavily and often, will really extend that time before replacement is necessary.

[Brooke]

Originally Posted by Ray

If the medium goes through wet/dry cycles, it will always build up, and flushing will never remove all of the residues. I will grant you, however, that using a very dilute fertilizer solution, and watering heavily and often, will really extend that time before replacement is necessary.

Well good, it seems I am doing it right since I've never had a problem just moving them up a pot size (or two) when I up pot them.

Brooke

[james mickelso]

And that is usually the issue with dividing vs drop potting. I do both. Yesterday was drop potting but last week was dividing. I had some catts that were very overgrown and needed repotting. These were veritable octopuses and dividing them would have set them back quite a bit. They are just now coming out of rescue mode and putting out multiple new growth. Had I divided them, the new growth would have stalled and more importantly not flowered. So I drop potted them. Others I have divided because they would do better as separate plants anyway. But repotting sets most orchids back a bit if not really far back. The key is to not let the orchid become over grown in it's pot to begin with and that means potting every year or two. I use a medium to coarse bark mix or lava cinder in most of my pots so I can more easily get most of the old media out without damaging the roots too much. Remember that you don't need to pack the pot with media around every root. If there are voids in the pot where you couldn't get media into, don't sweat it. I also use pots that have very large bottom holes (I break out the holes to about 50% of the size of the bottom area of the pot) or if plastic, I burn holes around the side of the pot for better air circulation (picture included). Here's a few examples of drop potting and a few of just waiting to divide. The first one is just now putting out a new growth and needs to be left alone. It will be dropped next season. The second pic is of a very root bound catt that is just recovering from rescue and putting on six new growths so was just dropped. Third is also recovering and flowering for the first time. I'll drop it when it finishes flowering. To wait until it throws roots would jeopardize it too much. Next season it will be divided. 4th is newly dropped. 4 new growths would be stunted if this was divided. 5th is just recovering from rescue and can't have it's root drastically reduced without further damage and subsequent setback. It will be dropped. 6th was dropped recently and continues to improve with new growth. 6 years old from rescue. It's dowiana and notorious for dying without provocation. 7th is a catt noid that has languished for around 10 years doing nothing but staying alive. No growth no nothing. Then all of a sudden it puts out new buds on 4 old pbulbs. I just dropped it to give the new growth, when it puts out new roots, new media to grow into. Last is an LC that has never put out flower sheaths. Grows well with new buds every year. So all of a sudden out pop two sheatsh which have sat for a year now. Just dropped it to lessen any stress on the flower sheaths. My advice when contemplating any repotting whether dividing or dropping is to wait until the new growth puts out roots and they are at least an inch long. Then do your thing. It gives the plant the best chance of moving ahead with the least amount of stress. If digging out the old moss/bark/chc whatever will damage the roots dropping may be an option worth looking into. But then you run the risk of fungus/bacteria/mold damaging them too. If anyone has any issues or concerns with which method to use, post a couple pics here and let us help you. There's no reason you can't take the orchid out of the pot, take a pic and send it to us. Then take another pic of what you did and let us critique it. A sort of step by step. Being out of the pot for awhile isn't going to hurt the orchid. Anyway, that's my book for the day. Hope it helps. Also my clay pot bottom holes are enlarged and I burn holes around the sides of my plastic pots with a large screwdriver heated with a small torch. Ok finished. Time for breakfast.

[Stray59]

Good post James - I like the pots that have the enlarged holes - this would keep me from having to buy the orchid pots with the slots in the side. Looks like you have some really nice orchids there!
Thanks for the suggestions - very nice system.
Steve

[james mickelso]

Thanks. It helps to keep the bottom center of the rootball a little drier. Or should I say it helps even out the moisture in the whole pot. It lets me water more often.

[Oscarman]

Great information James - thank you for that.

The plant in picture #2 looks very streaky in the leaves - is it OK. Doesn't it look virus streaking?

[james mickelso]

As far as I can tell that is the coloration of this particular plant. It's had this coloration since I got it.