Rhynchostylis gigantea potting

[Dollythehun]

I tried searching for this info. So many different takes. I got a small Rhynchostylis. Turned it out of the 2" pot. Put it in a slatted 6" basket, which is what I had. Rinsed and double soaked (clear h20 then w epsom salts) rinsed the Leca and potted. All the roots are not underneath the Leca. Is this method okay? I keep reading fir bark which I have. Is that better? I also soakef the little guy in a dilute fish emulsion bath. It can have bright but not hot sun most of tbe Indiana day.

[estación seca]

I have a few small ones. I have read they don't like being repotted, and they grow extremely slowly, so something like LECA or cinders would make sense to me. Other people grow them in a basket with very little medium; when time to repot, they set the old basket inside the new basket, attempting to thread the long roots through the slats in the new basket. Then they add a little fresh medium between the baskets.

If you medium has fairly large chunks it would probably be easier to pick out without disturbing the roots too much.

[Dollythehun]

There just seems like a lot if medium around it. Did you use fir bark? If you read too much, you just get confused. How often do you water leca?
I read they will grow in almost anything though.

[estación seca]

I have two in 3" baskets of sphagnum moss. One has two enormous 2 foot long roots poking through the basekt that together weigh much more than the leaves. The other has very small roots. I bought them as less-than-perfect plants needing some tender loving care.

Plants in LECA need watering more often than plants in medium or fine bark, or in moss. Large chunk bark and LECA probably need watering every day or two for a plant in the Vanda group.

[Dollythehun]

One last question: This was a 2" pot. I puts it in a 6" slotted wooden basket (it was all I had handy). Therefore it is full of leca. Should I switch it to large fir bark instead? There is a lot of leca in that pot. I set it on a leca/water filled tray for humidity and it is now in my orchid jail (quarantine and cat free zone).

[estación seca]

I think the basket and LECA will be fine. Use the skewer method to find out when the interior is dry:

Using skewers to determine when to water

[Dollythehun]

Yep. Got the skewer method although I seldom need it. I was just toying with the idea of soaking bark when your message came. Thanks. I'm anxious to repot it but will follow your advice.

[Fairorchids]

You can grow Rhy gigantea in almost any medium. Couple of points:
A. It REALLY hates being disturbed (for repotting).
Try to use a medium that lasts a long time. Young plants need a medium with some water retention. Mature plants can be grown in 'next-to-nothing', as long as you water twice a week.
B. It is one of the very few Vandaceous plants, where mid-size to mature plants need to dry out between waterings (look at leaves, it is a succulent type plant).

I have 25-30 of these. I use a mix of spaghnum and bark (3:1 for seedlings, 1:1 for mature plants, and all bark for specimen size plants). I use net pots (from hydroponics stores), and pot small seedlings in 3.1/2" size, larger seedlings in 5" size. Once plants are mature, they go into an 8" hexahonal Vanda basket.

When I must repot, I carefully snip away the old plastic net pot and pluck out any remaining medium. Then I carefully place in suitable next size, and repack with medium. This can easily take 1-1.1/2 hrs per large plant. However, it is worth it to avoid 9-18 months of a plant sulking.

[Dollythehun]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

You can grow Rhy gigantea in almost any medium. Couple of points:
A. It REALLY hates being disturbed (for repotting).
Try to use a medium that lasts a long time. Young plants need a medium with some water retention. Mature plants can be grown in 'next-to-nothing', as long as you water twice a week.
B. It is one of the very few Vandaceous plants, where mid-size to mature plants need to dry out between waterings (look at leaves, it is a succulent type plant).

I have 25-30 of these. I use a mix of spaghnum and bark (3:1 for seedlings, 1:1 for mature plants, and all bark for specimen size plants). I use net pots (from hydroponics stores), and pot small seedlings in 3.1/2" size, larger seedlings in 5" size. Once plants are mature, they go into an 8" hexahonal Vanda basket.

When I must repot, I carefully snip away the old plastic net pot and pluck out any remaining medium. Then I carefully place in suitable next size, and repack with medium. This can easily take 1-1.1/2 hrs per large plant. However, it is worth it to avoid 9-18 months of a plant sulking.

Hi, Kim!
Thanks for responding. This is what I did: I carefully removed the old medium (as much as I could safely pick off) and soaked it in a weak fish solution for an hour or so. Then I planted it in LECA (Ikea LECA) which I had soaked in clear water for 24 hours and then in Epsom salts for 24 hours (per Estacion). It is in a 6" slatted basket which can eventually hang. It is in quarantine in the "orchid Jail" on a tray full of LECA and water. It is in a south window (which is not hot now) and has a fan blowing on it. I think I covered all my bases and It hasn't died, shriveled or dropped any parts so far and it has been a week or 10 days. I mist the roots several times a day and water (soak) every other day. When it is big enough, it will hang in a east/south combination in intermediate temps. Yes, a knowledgeable plant person can see the succulent leaves would need perfect drainage. Since I knew it wouldn't be re-potted for some time and since I had this basket already, I went this route. Your kind thoughts are always appreciated so, feel free to correct me if needed.
Carol

---------- Post added at 11:42 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:41 AM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

I think the basket and LECA will be fine. Use the skewer method to find out when the interior is dry:

Using skewers to determine when to water

Yep. I got one in there.