When to repot Miltassia Shelob 'Tolkien' ?

[RandomGemini]

This thing needs a repot. Check this out:



It has two spikes blooming and I believe it's growing a third spike, also, nearly every pbulb I can see on this plant, seems to have a new one growing off of it and I think there are about 12 pbulbs on the plant now... and it's packed into a 4 inch pot.

When's the best time to repot these? I'd like to enjoy the blooms on this one for as long as I can, but at the same time, this thing is so tight in the pot that I can't even tell what medium it's potted in.

Thanks!

[tarev]

Wow! Those looked so happily being cramped there! But you are right, it does need a repot.

Maybe just try to move it to a slightly bigger container without disturbing so much the roots, so the spike can continue to grow and bloom, then after the bloom show is over, then divide it..3 to 4 pbs at least.

I have same plant and potted it in smaller, finer grade bark mix. Though not as thriving as your plant right now..I should have brought it indoors, it hated the winter cold very much, but it is in recovery phase slowly, making new pbs too.

[RandomGemini]

This plant is new to me, so it's adapting to my conditions. I bought it like this in this pot, for 13$. I thought it was a steal given how much new growth there is all over the place.

Do you think I should wait for a few more weeks to let it adapt to the conditions in my house before I repot? Every time I have repotted an Oncidium just after purchase, all of the blooms have dropped.

[Leafmite]

With whatever you decide, good luck!

[RandomGemini]

Thanks! I wouldn't mind just repotting it into a larger pot and letting it grow a bit bigger, but once it outgrows a six inch pot, I will have to divide it.

[tarev]

I think it would be good to just move a little bit bigger container for now so you can at least see what media it is in and it would be hard to water that tightly packed set-up.

Unless you would water it by dunking the root zone, then you can continue keeping it in that existing container for now. The only thing is, not knowing what kind of media it is planted in, though this plant likes being moist, just have to be careful not to be overwatering it.

[Leafmite]

Or, you could look for the largest pot ever....

I wish I was more helpful but I wouldn't want you to lose your blooms if you go ahead and re-pot while in bloom. If you knew what was in that pot exactly (mostly roots and very little medium?) it would help with the decision. If there wasn't much medium, dropping the entire thing into a larger pot and shoving a little medium around it would be the perfect way to go.

[RandomGemini]

LOL! One of the local OS members has a cattleya growing in a 5 gallon bucket. Not attractive, but it works!

[Leafmite]

Some of the largest specimen orchids I have ever seen are at the shows hosted by the OSWP (Pittsburgh's Orchid Society). I'm not certain how they transport them!

[RandomGemini]

My imagination just kicked in. I'm picturing a network of PVC pipes and floral wire to stabilize spikes in the back of a large van. LOL!

All of the blooms opened on this plant overnight. I grabbed my laptop and sat it down next to the pot and I'm enjoying them this morning. I really, really love this orchid. I may even like it better than my phals. It might be worth it to me to let it get really big...