Repotting Rootbound Cattleya

[bethmarie]

Can I get some input from anyone/everyone on how you'd handle these roots? I just wrestled this Schombolaelia out of a 3.5" clay pot. Roots are tight and even after a long soak none of them seem inclined to loosen up.

It's ridiculously late, but this was obviously of the utmost importance, so I'm just going to let the picture say the next thousand words.

Thank you!

[katrina]

I would not try to loosen those roots...it will do more damage than good. I'd just plop it in a new pot and fill around the sides with fresh media.

[bethmarie]

Originally Posted by katrina

I would not try to loosen those roots...it will do more damage than good. I'd just plop it in a new pot and fill around the sides with fresh media.

Thank you. That makes the most sense to me. Can't stand the feeling of a healthy root snapping. You've spared me

[dounoharm]

oh boy.....plopping it into a fresh pot as is, really is cheating! do it right or not at all, my old dad would say....and this is the time of year for that ugly job.

it sounds brutal, but your plant will thank you....take some strong shears or knife, and make a vertical slit straight down that mess. try to loosen. if you need to cut again on the opposite side, do so....sometimes a root 'pruning' is what it needs to get growing in another pot.

that one, I think 2 cuts, and then sit down and wrestle it. there will be plenty of good roots left.

I worked at an orchid and rose cut flower wholesaler once, and I had to whiz thru a whole greenhouse of overgrown plants...they didn't mess with them but every 4-5 years. I was taught to cut mercilessly, whack the back of the plant off, and ALL the older roots....I felt bad for about 1 table, then I realized that it had to be done....they grew like weeds in their new pots!

[estación seca]

I have to disagree. Drop the plant into a new pot and fill in with new medium. It will take off like weeds in its new pot.

Chopping up the existing roots to get them out of the old pot will be far more damaging than anything that could happen from old medium. The new roots yet to grow will be doing the most work, anyway.

[Leafmite]

If that was my orchid, I would probably do what Katrina suggested (as that is what I do with my other plants/orchids).

[bethmarie]

I'm headed for the cheating side of town.

I've read about cutting into the roots to loosen them, and hope I've just been given license to abstain. Just imagining it messes with my Zen.

What is the sound of one root snapping?

[Leafmite]

You should be fine.

[katrina]

Yep, I've done it enough times to safely say ...it won't skip a beat.