When do you NOT repot a new acquisition?
 

This is really the question I should have been asked with my onc question earlier this morning but I was a bit excited about eBay.

Those of you who make a practice of repotting new acquisitions- what, if any, are your exceptions?


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Always. So I can't be of much help answering your query. I never repot any new acquisition (unless it definitely looks like it won't make it for the next two or three months) until it has had a period to adjust to my growing conditions, and the media is showing clear signs of breaking down. This is not to say I don't dote over new arrivals, because I do, in order to observe all the changes that might take place indicating how it is going to grow after the period of adjustment.

Hm, that's an interesting point of view! I like it. It's really fascinating how different we all are. I can totally see where you are coming from with that. For me, I want to know everything about my plant from the beginning and I feel like it's already undergone stress from moving from its original environment to my home, so my repotting it won't stress it more, and I will be able to see the roots and know its "baseline" so to speak. But I always fret that I'm causing it more harm. And now with two, maybe three oncidiums coming, I'm really fretting because I keep reading that they are more sensitive than the phals and paphs and dens that I am used to.

Almost never.

There have been a few occasions (maybe a handful) where I let it go because the medium was fresh and/or it was already in whatever I might use as a medium. But...as a general rule...I like to repot any new plants and I try to get it done w/in the first week. Ideally, depending on my time, I'll get it done w/in a day or two of arrival.

I like repotting all new plants for a few reason...
1) I get to see the roots which gives me a good feel for the overall health of the plant.
2) I can do a thorough check for any hitchhikers and eliminate anything before it become a big problem.
3) I like to clean them up w/soap and water (protocol for any new plants in my collection).
4) Lastly, I like to pot them up into my preferred medium(s) and pots.

Took the post right outta my little fingers!:biggrin: Only, except for I usually do repot (I almost never buy anything in bud, forever flower) only because I feel, having a plant grow as soon as possible in my chosen medium for it will help it adapt to my growing conditions even more.

What she said....(Katrina)

Always. There's only one reason I would hold off. No new growth. I rarely buy plants with no new growth.

I don't know why I'm so dang paranoid about these oncs coming Tuesday or Wednesday. Well, part of me is super selfish. I know I really want to see the shelob bloom. So if I lose all three spikes I'll be sad. If I had purchased from my local grower I would have purchased in flower and would still have the same dilemma but I think would be more likely to lose flowers than buds, but maybe not. I just am so used to repotting anything that comes in here and I just recently had a mealy disaster so am hyper paranoid.

Oncidium roots...scary. I've never repotted oncs. :(


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Can you elaborate? Do you mean insecticidal soap or something different? I always rinse my plants off but maybe I should be doing more. I see others do a physan 20 soak with new plants.


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Don't be scared...oncids are just as tough as most other orchids. I don't grow them anymore but when I did...I'd have to do divisions w/a hacksaw and they NEVER skipped a beat. You're only repotting so you'll be perfectly fine. You can do it!

With that said...

If the medium looks good and it's something you're comfortable growing in...no one says you HAVE to repot right away. If all looks good and you're more comfortable waiting...then wait. It's your plant...you get to grow it how YOU want to grow it. ;)

HA! We were posting at the same time. The soap and water...
after I have them unpotted I use a little dish soap I and soap them up then I rinse. This cleans off residues, helps to loosen and remove the old, dried cataphylls...and will also take care of any stray mealies or whatever soft bodied insect that might have hitched a ride. Soap, rinse, repot.

If they are really dirty or have lots of stuck on papery bits then I'll even use a soft toothbrush and gently scrub them while they are soaped. HTH

I'm telling ya if I get another dang mealy bug in here! Burn the place down! Ok, not that bad, but UGH!!!! My skin still crawls!!!


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I hear ya on the mealies! I had a major infestation (brought in on some ferns) about 7-8 years ago and it was a major PITA. Once they get a hold...they are hard to eradicate w/out going big guns. The soap helps with a lot of those little nasties. It's not fool proof but is sure helps.

I'm in the repot everything group. I want to see what the roots looks like so I know what I'm dealing with. I don't pay attention to growing seasons, I repot and treat them the say way I do when my plants aren't in the growing season which is usually less water.

I also give a bath to every plant that comes to me but I use a very soft toothbrush with soap to clean every piece of green on the plant. I spray the plant with water, scrub and then rinse the soap off.

I also spray each plant with insecticide before it ever meets any of my plants. I want to kill any hitchhikers that are too small to see.

Brooke

When I buy from vendors other than Norman's.
Just kidding.

I hardly ever repot newly purchased orchids unless the mix looks very old.
I don't like to repot in general. lazy. lol

When do you NOT repot a new acquisition?
 

I have been buying mounted plants, so those plants do not get re-mounted. I collect Neofinetia. They usually come in fresh sphagnum moss, so no need to re-pot those plants. I'm with NYCorchidman--I repot when it looks like the media my new plant arrives in is decayed--a rare event as the vendors I buy plants from are very reliable. I also quarantine my plants when they arrive--for about a month. They are isolated from other plants and I study them to see how they are adapting to my environment.

Otherwise, like NYC, i plead laziness! My re-potting behavior works for me--I have not lost a new plant--yet.