Brassia repotting, the plan.
 

Ok, since I am new to orchids and I have a Brassia that needs repotting, I have been planning out the process and the future care of the plant in its new home.

The Brassia is potted in sphag moss and is retaining too much water. Also, it has just finished flowering and has new growth from two psudobulbs, but I dont know for sure if it is new orchid growth.

The end result I am wanting is a setup where I am controling the nutrients, and the media wont be as likely to break down.

My plan is to remove the brassia from the pot and wash off the old moss. Then I will soak the roots in a solution of KLN and water, then rinse off all old media. If the roots are healthy, I will proceed to potting. If the roots are rotted I would then dress the root wounds with CloneX (after cutting the dead off).

It is going into a slightly larger clay pot (it had been in a plastic pot). I am mixing about a 4:1 of Hygromite and sphag moss (by volume) and then potting the plant.

Feeding and watering will be, by my estimate, once every 1 to 2 days while growing and every 4 to 5 days when resting. I will be watering by spraying/squirting the media with the water/food solution most of the time, complete flooding of the pot every week or two and a complete soak with something to dissolve residue salts every month.

I plan on using a 1/2 strength solution of Maxigro and Superthrive at every watering.

Since I am way new at this, and I dont completely understand how plants function (but I am studing), does anyone see any big problems with this plan? Thank you for your response.

Dave

My regime was to start with repotting into bark mix of bark/charcoal/perlight(coarse). I used a large basket meant for waterlilies as it had really fine holes all over the container. The one I repotted was quite large, so I used an 8" basket. I picked a container large enough for the new growth for a year's growwing period. I soaked the mix in KLN rooting solution overnight then repotted. I watered the plant every third day (it's indoors in house approx 30-40% humidity - very bright south window with supplemental lighting). It is now in bloom with new growths besides. Hope any of this matches your conditions and, therefore, helps.

Personally, I find that brassias do wonderfully in semi-hydro culture, and moving from soppy moss to s/h is a perfect scenario, especially after your soak/medium extraction proposal.

Both Brassias I have are in aliflor (one in a large clay pot and the other in a glazed ceramic pot with holes all around it)...they haven't bloomed yet but there is new growth and the plants are healthy :)

Sue, how often do you have to water your plants that are in straight aliflor? I too have a brassia that needs repotted so I was just curious...

Sarah :)

I had thought about the bark/carbon mix. My problem with it is that as the bark decomposes it uses nitrogen. I understand that high N fertlizers are available, but how am I going to know how much N is being used at any one given time. As I said this is my problem, many use this media with great success. But who knows, I may have limited success with what I am about to do and may just give the bark media a try after all. I do thank you and everyone else for your imput.

I also have my plant facing south but it is not as bright as I would like. I am thinking about a set of T5 lighting. My humidity is good though, 55% to 85% indoors.

I looked into S/H but it did not appeal to me. Once I have more plants I am thinking about going to a flood and drain hydro system but for now it will be a flood and drain to waste.

I suppose the only way to know what is going to work is to just try it. I do appricate the input, thanks.

Dave

Hi Sarah :)

When I'm misting everyday, the pots get a dose too :)

OK, so this is probably terrible terrible advice, but I'm new, too, and this is what I did...

I took the brassia out of the old pot and put it in an orchid pot (the kind with the slits in the sides) with a bag of potting medium that had been pre-soaked. That was all I did. :blushing: But it looks fine and is a happy orchid. :biggrin:

Have you entertained the idea of ultrasonic foggers? I've always found aeroponics to be a step above hydroponics. You can get small ones on Ebay for $20, and I would think it would reduce your chances of algae and fungus due to the fact that you wouldn't be wetting them. I haven't tried them yet, but I plan on it when I finish building my greenhouse.

Something that works pretty good for me .... potted in clay, sphag moss with #3 coarse rok -60/40 mix.