Zygo repotting - Orchid Board

princesjess13 · #1 08-20-2017, 12:17 AM

Hello,

I purchased a zygo today and I have repotted it because it had some dead roots and tiny crawling bugs on it. My question is since there were some dead roots have I set back reblooming? I cut off around 1/4 - 1/2 dead roots off the bottom. It has 2 new growths and about a dozen new roots growing on the top by the pseudobulbs. Thank you

topun · #2 08-20-2017, 01:22 AM

Removing dead roots will not set the plant back, they cannot provide the plant with nutrients anyway. Dead roots just contribute to the decay of the medium.
Repotting a plant disturbs them and they need some time to acclimatize to the new medium etc. That is why one recommends to repot when new roots are showing.
However, if a medium is really old or even infested, the longterm benefits of an immediate repotting outweigh the drawbacks.

In short: In your case I would have done the same. Zygos build extensive root systems. Last time, mine sulked a bit after repotting and dividing and did nothing for a while. 3 months later the pot was full of roots again. Bonus: all zygos I know form spikes before the pseudobulb is fully developed. So you won't have to wait as long. :-)

estación seca · #3 08-20-2017, 02:39 AM

Zygos like plenty of water, never drying out. They also like quite cool temperatures.

princesjess13 · #4 08-20-2017, 10:30 AM

Thank you! That's a relief! I was surprised to get it from an orchid nursery and to see it like that. I don't think it has very been repotted, it has a small piece of foam in the center of its roots too. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it doesn't have any bugs. Any idea what type of tiny crawling bug it was.

topun · #5 08-20-2017, 01:26 PM

Most nurseries want to make money, i.e. make the plants grow and bloom fast. That is why they are rather cheap to buy for us. Repotting (and removing old medium) would set the plants back, so they usually don't do it. That's why you find those sphagnum or foam plugs. They just take it out of the pot, put it in a larger one and add medium.

It's hard to say what those bugs were. Maybe try comparing them to pics online? Pest Control Library: Bug Mugs - Garden.org

princesjess13 · #6 08-20-2017, 01:39 PM

Thank you!