How would you repot?

[OhioBob]

Thank you both, Katrina and James.
The pot it currently is in is the size it came in originally several years ago. There are a ton or roots in the pot. So this weekend I will work to get it into another pot.
I am trying the increased light on this plant. Usually if it is outside it stays under the porch roof because I have burned it in the past but this year I have been moving it more to get it out onto the deck and into more sun.
I'll post a picture of the end result.

[james mickelso]

I just don't see a lot of roots. Enough to justify putting it into the larger sized pot. If you think it should go into the other pot then make sure you use up some of the space down in the pot with something that won't absorb water. Couple good rocks. Try to find some dolomite which is a calcium based rock which should be abundant in ohio. Make a couple of stakes in the new pot to stabilize the plant until new roots form.

[Maryanne]

If you have a plastic Net type pot/basket of near same size, you could set the whole shebang into it without removing the pot shards. That would minimize disturbance and maximize the drainage. Peeling of shards off the roots may set it back a little. But Dendrobiums of that sort seem to be a hardy bunch.

Good luck
ML

[james mickelso]

Therein lies the secret. By using a thin knife like implement to slide between the roots and pot shard the disturbance to the roots is minimized and it won't set the plant back at all. Leaving the roots attached to the pot shards will really set back the plant next year when you repot it because the roots will have wrapped around the shards and you will have to cut the roots to get the pot shards out of the root mass. Better now than later. And remember to do it when the roots are dry to minimize the damage to the roots.

[OhioBob]

This evening I repotted the plant. Cutting the roots off the pot was harder than I imagined because I forgot that the shards don't want to move around to make the cutting convienent. On the larger pot shards I just put the knife into the media and hoped my aim was true. I think I did well as I found only one large (1 inch) root section torn/cut off. The pot I used was not the one pictured. I found a 6 inch which was taller and put a rock in the bottom added lava rock to stabilize the rock then started the repotting. I didn't remove a lot of the original media (mostly lava anyway) to minimize the root disruption and then started to fill the pot in with a mix of lava and bark- one piece at a time to push it into the cavities around the roots. So far the plant seems to be supported well-no wiggling. Tomorrow I will give it a good dousing with water and hope for the best.
Ah, and yesterday my dog knocked over a different dendrobium that was also outside and it fell out of the pot. This though is a story for a different thread.

[Island Girl]

Originally Posted by OhioBob

This evening I repotted the plant. Cutting the roots off the pot was harder than I imagined because I forgot that the shards don't want to move around to make the cutting convienent. On the larger pot shards I just put the knife into the media and hoped my aim was true. I think I did well as I found only one large (1 inch) root section torn/cut off. The pot I used was not the one pictured. I found a 6 inch which was taller and put a rock in the bottom added lava rock to stabilize the rock then started the repotting. I didn't remove a lot of the original media (mostly lava anyway) to minimize the root disruption and then started to fill the pot in with a mix of lava and bark- one piece at a time to push it into the cavities around the roots. So far the plant seems to be supported well-no wiggling. Tomorrow I will give it a good dousing with water and hope for the best.
Ah, and yesterday my dog knocked over a different dendrobium that was also outside and it fell out of the pot. This though is a story for a different thread.

Gotta love those dogs! (have one myself) *shakes head* ....maybe u could wrap a strip of duct tape around all of your (aerial) clay pots, you know how they put tape on large windows in an "X" shape to keep strong winds, debris, etc from shattering them?

Glad to hear your repot went nicely! Good Luck! I hope this Den. will flower for you this year!