Grammatophyllum Help!
 

I've had success with Phals, so I'm now the orchid expert---NOT. Someone handed me this and asked to have it repotted.
It has no leaves, just several giant pseudobulbs, a dead flower stalk, all those weird roots sticking up, and the whole thing generally looks sort of dead to me.
Label reads: "Gram. Scriptum var Citrinum 'Hihimmanu'"
I'm hoping someone can help me!
Is it OK to repot? What sort of pot? How much larger?
I have some leftover large Orchiata bark, is that OK?
Do I leave all the pseudobulbs as-is?
How much to water? Fertilizer?
Help! Any advice is welcome, I can't find much information about this plant, especially what to do with an overgrown one that has no leaves!
Thanks!

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Definitely not dead. Definitely in need of repotting. Beyond that, I leave to people who actually grow this genus. I am guessing medium-to-small bark. (It's in the Cymbidium family) Good luck!

When you hear Grammatophyllum think hot, humid, wet and sunny.

Many plants in the Cymbidium tribe make upright baskets of pointy roots. They trap leaves and increase water and nutrient availability. When you see a plant with this kind of roots it means it wants lots and lots of water and lots and lots of fertilizer.

These things are water hogs. The person probably didn't water it enough. Repot into medium or large bark as Roberta suggested, and water it a lot. It should begin growing soon. When that happens fertilize it heavily.

They like hot weather all year round. I suppose they would survive intermediate temperatures but they would hardly grow.

They do much better with higher humidity than most people have in the house.

A lady in our Society who grows them well hangs them in the highest part of her greenhouse so they get the most light. She does have shade cloth over her greenhouse, as do most people here. I keep mine in a southeast facing window in my humid sunroom. It gets several hours of direct sun through the window every day.

When old pseudobulbs dies they turn brown and soft. Many people think it's rot, but this is just how they die.

You're unlikely to kill one of these unless you underwater, or keep it too cool or too shady. Before I understood them I got one in a surprise box from Carmela. I watered it too carefully and it quickly died. Now I keep mine soggy wet all year and it grows great.

Thanks Roberta and ES, this is very helpful. I think it was kept in a 70 degree office with not enough light, not enough water, and never fertilized.
I'll keep it home in rehab for a bit, then try to get the owner to donate it to the greenhouse where I volunteer. It's hot, humid and very bright, sounds about right!
Thanks!

Tons of water and food in summer then even those off over the winter but high humidity year-round. I keep mine in a hanging basket, same light as Vanda's and Catt's.

Thanks, Keysguy. Photo is spectacular!
:waving

Thanks again for the good advice! It's repotted, and on its way to the greenhouse for heat, humidity, water and fertilizer. Still no sign of leaves, we'll see how it goes.
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