when to repot

[syndywindy]

How do you know when repotting is needed? I have a catt that is in bloom and was told after blooming it needed a pot up. What in general do you look for when determining repotting? Also, in general, is it advisable to keep an orchid in the same medium that it came in, or can they be interchangable? Thanks I am fairly new and inhaling everything from this great forum! Syndywindy

[Stelios]

Hi Syndy, welcome to the forum.

In general orchids should be repoted once a year, however this is a very generic guideline.

Thinks you should consider:

-Has the orchid outgrew the pot?
If yes then it is time for a repot, however keep in mind that most orchids seem to like roots being packed close. Repot in one size larger pot or the same pot (dead roots should be cleard when repotting and this can some times even cause the plant to be repotted even in a smaller pot size).

-Has the potting medium degraded?
Breaking down medium can retain too much water and couse root problems.

-Has the medium being infected?
Incect or fungi love to grow on potting medius. Also fertilizer salts can built up burning your plant over time.

Regarding the kind of potting medium, i think it's up to the plant needs. Check what kind of plant you have and according to it;s needs decide the potting medium. I don;t see any wrong doing in changing the potting medium kind as long as it's apropriate for the plant. e.g. you can switch a Phalaenopsis from sfagnum moss to gark chips but not soil as it is not a terrestrial plant.

[FLBob]

There is no general rule for repotting catts. I prefer to repot as infrequently as possible. So I choice a mix that will last. The potting medium is the key. If the medium is organic (bark) and is breaking down then it's time to repot. If the plant appears not to be doing well, then most likely it's time to repot. I stick my fingers in my pots, if there is a void (soft spot) and I come out with fine bark bits then the medium is breaking down. If there is a musty smell then it's time to repot.

Your growing conditions have a lot to do with the time frame for your bark breaking down. I grow outside and in the summer heat and daily rains, bark lasts about 1-2 years. So I use a mix of charcoal, aliflor (clay pellets), sponge rock (large perlite), with some large bark chunks (silver dollar size). This medium in baskets lasts for years so I can grow my catts large with out disturbing them with a repot.

The other reason to repot is just that the plant has overgrown the pot it's in. There is no technical reason to repot, but when the plant is out-growing the pot it has a tendency to attach itself to the bench so moving it will break roots.