Baby Gigantea want out!

[Lucinda Brown]

Hi, I have a Rhynchostylis retusa v. gigantea that is in the vanda family. It came to me in a little 2" clay pot. It's climbing out of the pot! I just needed to know whether to repot into an orchid mix or if it would be alright to go ahead and put it into a little plastic mesh vanda basket with no mix. And treat it as I do my older vandas.All the roots are on the surface of the mix and barely in the mix at all. It doesn't seem to want to be in the medium,is pushing out of it. That's why I think maybe it's ready for just a vanda basket,no medium. Am I correct? It's about a year ,maybe a tad more away from bloomsize,but it's been growing like a weed since I put it outside in my 'mini greenhouse' with high humidity and almost full sun.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I have never heard of Rhyn. retusa v. gigantea. Are you sure it is not just Rhyn. gigantea? I think very high light is too much for Rhyn. gigantea. However, if the plant is doing well, I am not going to suggest any change, only that you keep an eye on this guy for any signs of stress, unusual spotting, leaf loss, that kind of thing. Cynthia

[jerrymeola]

I wish my wife's were doing as well as yours. We get roots and no leaf growth.

Yours clearly prefers open air roots so re-pot in a basket if you prefer the look. You might even prefer a bare Vanda hanger and no basket.