Bare Root Maxillaria Potting
 

How should I go about potting a bare root Maxillaria with a solid mass of fine roots? Separating the roots would be impossible without a lot of damage. I've already killed one by just putting bark around the root mass. I would like to try another one, but I need help understanding how I should pot it.

kc

I would pick out as much old medium as I could and then plant in in a larger pot. This can look quite hilarious when you take it out later. Here you have a 4 inch square clump of roots surrounded by a circular 6 inch clump of roots It is kind of like a big rubber band ball.

Soaking in water for a couple of hours will help get it apart. This won't hurt the plant at all.

The problem is there was no media and the root ball was a tight mass of tangled roots. Any suggestions?

Which Maxillaria? Some of them are very happy in spahgnum, a few do better in bark. I'd be inclined, unless it is Max. picta or one of its close relatives like ubatubana, to wrap the root ball in spahghnum, plop in a basket, and let it go, just keep it damp. I have found that most Maxillarias resent having roots disturbed (have killed more than a few by trying get into the root ball.)

Thanks, Roberta!! This seems like a workable solution. It's Maxillaria Sangai, a primary hybrid of pulla x striata. I love it's striped flowers and thought a hybrid might be better for a first Maxillaria try. I've never seen such a solid mass of roots!!

kc

I don't have pulla, but do have striata and sphag in a basket should be fine for it. With that mass of roots, all it needs is the moisture from the sphag, sounds like you got a terrific plant!

Hi,
I've had the same problem with Maxillaria lepidota (Gordian knot of roots). After scratching my head for a while, and massaging my temples, I decided to stick it undisturbed into seedling bark mix with sphag about 50/50- so far, so good. Good luck!