newbie question - why smallest pot?
 

sorry newbie question. i usually come across repotting instructions mentioning to use the smallest possible pot.. can you enlighten me on the reason for this?
thanks so much :) btw wasn't sure if this question belongs under Propagation or Beginner Discussion, leaving it to the mods to move to appropriate discussion folder :D

Many orchids don't like it when their roots stay wet for to long and a smaller pot will dry up faster. However it will always be a compromise as many orchids don't like repotting. So typically you should go for a pot size that allows for 3 years of growth. Some orchids are growing and flowering easier when they are growing outside the pot (Especially Cattleya's).

I agree with the previous post. Too much water kills more orchids than anything else. Very small pots makes it more difficult to overwater. You need to water more frequently but fast drying orchids that are watered more frequently are usually healthier plants.

If you repot and restore the previous conditions, wouldn't it not phase the plant? I'd figure it would only really matter if the conditions shifted and remained so....

The most important reason for repotting is because the medium is breaking down and adversly affecting the environment of the root zone. A healthy root zone is one of the most important aspects of growing orchids.

thanks for the explanation guys! :)
so i guess it's all about not overwatering the orchids.. will take note of that! thanks so much again :D