Root bound Den.?

[hank3443]

Hi, I was given a Den. Pam Tajima in bloom about 31/2 months ago and i was going to repot as soon as it was finished blooming. I went away for 10 days and i had some one that was good enough to water my orchids while i was gone. I didn't remove the Den. from its decorative pot that had no holes in it, when i returned it was full of water, so i decided to repot blooms or not. When
i removed the plant from the 6" pot the root was the exact shape of a 4" pot
as tight and dense as possible. I ran it under water, i picked at it, i just could not remove very much without doing major damage. The roots had no rot that was visible so i just repotted it in a new 6" pot. I received some good advice
i believe, i was told to cut the oldest looking side of root ball and then to peel it back to remove the old mix. I will probable do that but i am little apprehensive about doing that much damage to it and i would like a second opinion on this. Thanx Hank.....

[lissie0113]

i recently had a Den. Yellow Song 'Canary' that finished flowering and i inquired about whether or not i should repot. I had responses that basically said Dens love to be rootbound and that I should wait until there is absolutely no more room left for new growths. So I guess they like tight quarters ;o)

[hank3443]

Thank you Melissa,i have also heard that they like to be rooted tight, i might wait on doing anything drastic. thanks again Hank....

[digitalgate]

repotting need experience. It is very difficult to tell you how to cut as i have seen for myself. My friend Koh Keng Hoe taught me how to cut the root ball. It is just amazing how he can see where the cut going to be. (after 62 years of growing orchids).

Rule of thumb is alway cut the dead root away. Dead roots are those that is soft and hollow. It is useless and it can't regrow. If you leave it there, it only encourage fungus or other stuff to grow there. Leave the green ones alone.
Alway point the new growth toward the centre of the pot or you risking repotting a few months down the road.

[hank3443]

Thank you digitalgate for your input, all the roots i saw were solid and alive, i was originally concerned because of the soaking. I have about sixteen orchids and certainly no expert but i do know dead roots from alive ones, i didn't know that the roots would grow to the center rather to the out side, again thank you

[tansyflower]

Digitalgate meant put the newest den cane toward the centre of the pot, otherwise future canes may hang over the side (I think he did anyway).

I had an oncidium recently that I got and it was pretty much solid roots and really soggy. So I decided to repot ( I love repotting). It was similar to what you described, that the roots have completely taken on the shape of the old pot. It took a fair bit of wriglling the roots free, but it was worth it, as there was a big lump of really dense sphag in the middle.

Find the end of the roots and peel them back slowly, one by one, if that helps any. After a while a hole will appear, and then it gets easier. I couldn't get them all free, but was good enough to get the moss out and settle it in a larger pot with bark.

I did this when I first got it,there were only a couple of buds open on the spike, and the other buds opened without any worries.

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by tansyflower

Digitalgate meant put the newest den cane toward the centre of the pot, otherwise future canes may hang over the side (I think he did anyway).

that is call bad decision and inexperience. Now i gain experienceand i point them inward.

[orchidlover55]

Hank what was the outcome of your Den? I was curious because I now have one that I need to repot. LOL Thanks Debra

[hank3443]

Hi Debra, I must say i plant i was given is quite a surviver. I repotted it twice
because i wasn't happy with the outcome the first time. The second time i just bit the bullet and cleaned about 95% of old mix from bound roots. I repotted in
Aussie Gold. About two months ago the plant blew over ( keep out side in summer) had to repot again. The plant has (4) new canes growing and has just started blooming on the old ones for the second time. I know its not because of my excellent care it must be a very easy orchid to grow. Hank.....

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by hank3443

The plant has (4) new canes growing and has just started blooming on the old ones for the second time. I know its not because of my excellent care it must be a very easy orchid to grow. Hank.....

ah.... another master in the making. Yoda , iisss happy..