How long can avoid repotting this Oncidium/Brassia NOID?

[mrphilips]

it's potted kokedama-style, so repotting it will be an event that could take some time and would need to be done correctly. i'm confident i can do it, but it will be trickier than other orchid potting i have done thus far. i just don't want to do it until i really have to.

the plant is happy as is - blooms every year and produces larger foliage and pseudobulbs annually without losing any of the older leaves and bulbs - definitely content as is. but i have had it for over a year and i have no idea when it was first potted or how long it will stay happy for if i delay...

can anyone advise the outside window for repotting a large brass/onc NOID, or signs to look for indicating urgency?

[Orchid Whisperer]

A photo or two of the plant may help?

[mrphilips]

i believe there are two plants here... it's like a fan, with new growth extending on either side, so i think the original pbulbs are in the middle.

the new growths have exposed roots, but they find their way into the ball and weave all through it. no sign of dehydration if you ask me as the leaves aren't accordioned and each pbulb is bigger than the one before it.

and again, it blooms annually - it's one of my "happiest" plants, so if i don;t HAVE to disturb it i won't, but of course - i want to keep it happy...

any reason it can't wait a year? am i putting it at a major risk?

[gngrhill]

Looks perfectly happy to me. As long as there's no sign of rot on any of the roots, you are probably good to go as you are.

[mrphilips]

great! thanks

[snowflake311]

Yeah looks good no need to repot yet. If it's happy leave it.

[mrphilips]

"we repot to avoid rot"
the kokedama method may be a great way to pot considering the air exposure the plants get from all angles. this is probably my happiest 'chid

[gngrhill]

Ok, here's a bit of my newbie showing.....What is kokedama method ?

[mrphilips]

Kokedama is a way of potting a plant by essentially wrapping the root ball in medium, then moss, securing with string, and hanging it - as opposed to traditional potting in a pot.

Typical plant would need a ball of clay-ish soil a a centre wrapped I moss, but orchids could use sphagnum. Not sure if there's cork, bark, or husk in there for this one, I have yet to unwrap it.

If the moss on the outside is kept moist, it'll stay green, and the whole thing is watered by dunking it. Mine molded up last winter, so I stopped spraying the moss and only dunk it now. The moss turned brown, but as you can see the orchid seems to like it...

[wintergirl]

It might just be your picture but to me the moss looks a little old. When the moss looks black, it's past time to repot IMO. It's really not that hard. Pull the thick moss out with your fingers then use tweezers to get the rest. You could always repot in a clay pot with s. moss to make it easier.