Repotting VERY Potbound Den.

[astrumes]

I'm kicking myself for not talking pictures of the root ball so you guys can see how bad it was but my goodness did this orchid need to be repotted.

I recently got a dendrobium auriculatum that is big and bushy, a very beautiful plant. But when I went into the pot I found just layer after layer of roots. The orchid was potted in the typical plug of sphagnum moss but the roots have just completely taken over and surrounded the moss. When I tried to gently pull some of the roots away to get to the decomposing sphagnum inside, i would just see another layer of roots.

I got one corner of the system loose enough to get some moss out but after I snapped off a healthy root I decided to call it quits and soak her in a big bowl of water hoping to loosen the moss and have it flow out but it didn't work like I hoped.

So I just picked a bigger pot and potted the orchid in leca, leaving room on the sides so the medium surrounds the root ball. There is still so much sphagnum moss at the center of the root system.

Im hoping the plant will just grow new roots into the leca but I'm worried about the old moss ball at the center of the plant. I figure at this point, those roots are probably rotting and the moss is breaking down.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Should i risk the healthy roots to remove the old medium at the center or should I leave it as is to minimize the damage? I don't know what it better in the long term. If anyone had experience with this, please let me know.

[camille1585]

I would leave it as it is. The plant has obviously grown a large healthy root system, and losing a few roots in the center due to the sphag is not going to kill it.

This is my usual way of repotting extremely rootbound orchids. I remove whatever media that is easily removable, and then dump the plant in a larger pot with fresh media on the sides. Usually something long lasting, like Orchiata bark or leca pellets. One of my orchids (Max tenuifolia) is a solid mass of roots and I can't even see the media anymore.

[Leafmite]

You are probably fine with the old medium as your conditions are warm all year. I always need to remove the old medium to prevent problems as my home is quite cool in the winter.

If you have broken roots, just keep it dry for a couple of days to give the roots a chance to heal.

In my opinion, this is probably one of the best orchids to grow as it has fragrant flowers, pretty foliage, isn't difficult, and is usually in bloom.

[astrumes]

Thanks for the replies! I'm glad I ended up doing the right thing. I attached a picture so you guys can see how big this plant is. She came in a 3 inch plastic pot that I had to cut away.

Leafmite - now you've got me so excited to see this one in bloom! She's such a big bushy plant right now that I have high hopes!

camille1585 - Lucky for me I ran out of clean media right after I unpotted the orchid so I had to wait a couple days to repot. I think that was sufficient time for the broken root to dry out a little bit. Good to know this piece of info for future repottings.

[Leafmite]

Looks good!
I am envious as my pair are both much smaller.

Good luck and have fun with it!