Neo stylus Lou sneary Bluebird

[gngrhill]

I recently got my first NeoStylus and have some questions on repotting it. The blooms are done and I cut off the bloom stalks. I want to repot it into a basket with probably some coarse bark. It is currently in a small pot with very little if any medium in it. I was just wondering if I should wait until I see new roots growing or if it is ok to repot it now. The roots seem to be in good shape, but I don't see any sign of new roots. What do you think ?

[wintergirl]

I don't think they are that fussy about repots, at least I haven't noticed it.

[u bada]

I just got one recently myself and will repot as soon as the flowers finish fading... I lifted it a little an there were barely any roots in the pot itself... if that's the case I suppose there's no problem repotting. I'm going to put in a basket myself. We'll have to keep each other posted on how they do.

I have another rhynchostylis x neo hybrid that didn't bat an eye repotting it last year. I got it in a little pot with bark the year before, and barely had any in the pot, and certainly not healthy ones. I put it in a basket and set basket it in a ceramic glazed vessel larger than basket and it's root system has grown three fold. I'm hoping the lou sneary will do the same.

I've grown rhynchostylis before and they never liked being potted for me and needed a very open growing method.

On other hand I have an ascofinetia that I repotted at the same time and it didn't do anything for half a year...

[gngrhill]

Thanks, u bada, I have it neatly planted in a 3 in basket with coarse bark. I was told that they like lots of water and then to dry quickly, so I thought that would be a good way to go. So far it's looking happy. Time will tell.

[Rothrock42]

I'm thinking of "repotting" mine into a glass vase -- similar to how some folks do Vandas. Anybody done that? Does it seem like a good or a bad idea?

I grow in my home with a west facing window sill. So far my Vanda Fuchs Ruby has been in the vase for a little over a month and it seems to have started more roots and the new leaf is growing quicker than the previous one.

[estación seca]

I have a small flowering size Darwinara Deep Blue Seas that came early last summer from First Rays in a little basket with a few chunks of bark, and dangling roots. I also grow other Vandas in vases. I left the Darwinara in the basket out of laziness. I water it by dunking into a bucket or by spraying with a spray bottle. I water it daily, sometimes more often. Whether basket or vase, the plants need the same amount of time to care for, and the same watering.

[Rothrock42]

Yeah with the vanda I used to to just mist it a lot, but in the vase I give it a good soak once or twice a week and mist in between. I've kept it in the basket, but I'm planning to cut that away in the near future. The Lou Sneary is in a little square pot but I would liberate it from that.

I really love the look of being able to see the roots.

[Leafmite]

I agree. These can be transplanted at any time. I just bought a very fragrant replacement 'Blue Bird' for my never-fragrant one and potted it up in LECA and a four inch basket pot. It is still in bloom a week later and the roots that I can see look good.

One thing with bark and a basket pot is that the roots tend to creep out of the holes and this can require cutting the pot to remove the orchid for re-potting. If you use red lava rock or LECA, you won't need to worry about this. If the roots outgrow the pot, you can just drop the smaller pot into a large pot and add more red lava rock or LECA.

[gngrhill]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I agree. These can be transplanted at any time. I just bought a very fragrant replacement 'Blue Bird' for my never-fragrant one and potted it up in LECA and a four inch basket pot. It is still in bloom a week later and the roots that I can see look good.

One thing with bark and a basket pot is that the roots tend to creep out of the holes and this can require cutting the pot to remove the orchid for re-potting. If you use red lava rock or LECA, you won't need to worry about this. If the roots outgrow the pot, you can just drop the smaller pot into a large pot and add more red lava rock or LECA.

I know that you have had great luck with the lava rock and leca. My experience has not been as good. I find they never are really secure in the baskets and move around when they are moved to water them. They don't get tight in the pot like they do with bark.

[Leafmite]

If one medium worked for everyone, there would not be all the others.