So many roots!!!!!!!

[Kevstar]

Hi guys,

So I've repotted many phals and had no issues at all, but recently I repotted a Miltonia and a Zygo as they were both new purchases and the medium looked old.

When I unpotted them, I was shocked at the abundance of roots. They were moulded to the shape of the pot and it took me a while to gently remove the old media. Once the media was removed it was like the roots had tripled in length.

When I went to repot them, they would not fit in the same pot so I had to go slightly bigger but even then I had trouble getting them in and I'm not sure there's enough media in the pots due to the amount of roots!!

I'm a bit unsure what to do as I feel like the media is probably all round the sides and on top but not in the middle of the pots..

Does any of that make sense? What is the normal way to deal with those types of orchid? I know they like to be snug but I don't want to damage the roots by trying to squeeze them into a little pot.

Thanks.

[Dollythehun]

Simplistic as it seems, I just pot them in a pot that fits. You should have room in the new pot for
about a years growth. My Zygo and some oncidiums are in 8" pots.

[Ray]

Another trick - besides "a pot that fits" - is to "mound" the medium in the middle, and spread the roots over and around it, then fill in the perimeter.

[Kevstar]

It so simple when you think about it!

So... should i repot them both again using that technique do you think?

[Dollythehun]

Try one each way...

[rbarata]

My thoughts about are: roots need aereation and humidity/water.
The first is acomplished by creating voids inside the medium. Usually we create them by using coarse materials, organic or inorganic, mixed in the medium. In your case, without wanting it, you've created a big void.

The second factor, humidity, depends mostly on watering. Such a big voids as the one you have, in my oppinion, is not a problem. You just need to adjust your watering schedule as the increase on medium aereation dries it faster.
But you can repot, obviously...at least to give the plants a more "solid" support.

[MikeNichols]

A nice thought! I agree with this.