Can these roots be untangled?

[Jirel]

And if so - any tips? Its a catt, so I wasn't sure about soaking in water as they fell slightly damp already. Should I just do what I can and then stick it in a bigger pot?

[Danelady]

I think a lot of those roots don't look so good. Especially some of the lower ones. I would soak it for a little while before I did anything else. Getting the roots good and wet will help you determine which ones are still good. The newer, healthier roots will turn green. The roots that stay white are probably softer, almost mushy and can go.
You can wait for someone w/a little more exprerience to chime in, though.

[lmartiny]

It is said that if you soak the roots they will be more pliable to work with. When I repotted mine recently it was suggested I put it an a basket as they can do well that way in Florida.

[rcb]

One trick that seems to work for me, is I soak the roots in a neem oil solution. Not sure if I'm imagining or not, but the roots seem to come apart more easily than if I just soak in water, from each other, from the medium, and from the pot. Also, if there are any bugs lurking, it drives them away as well.

[willowbanks]

Jirel, those roots are almost perfect for a Cattleya, very healthy and impressive, exactly what good Catt culture is all about.

Why did you pull it out of the pot?????

Bill

[Jirel]

When I get a brand new orchid I like (if it is not blooming), to repot and check the condition of the roots. In this case, there were two pots, one within the other and all those roots were around the outside of the inside. IN the middle was a disintegrating mess of spagmum moss with no roots. And after soaking and checking, many of the roots were squishy. When I was done, this is what was left over:



And I did replant it in a basket, just seemed like a good idea.

[jerrymeola]

Jirel

The plant roots look very healthy now on the outside, but the internal roots depend on the quality of the bark. How long has it been since you re-potted and removed the old bark?

The bark we are getting in the United States now decomposes in about 2 years. If the bark is older than that it needs to be removed. I listened when I started to putting a plant like this in a larger pot as is. I lost them all.

Old decaying bark in the middle will prevent roots from growing in the middle of the pot. The plant will either grow over the edge of the pot or slowly deteriorate.

I re-potted one about 30 minutes ago, that while not looking as good as these roots, most were looking good around the outside of the pot. The entire center was rooted. After removing the dead roots there was not much left other then what was visible on first removal.

In the long run you need to remove the old bark every two years. Up-sizing a pot without removing the bark is a slow death for the plant.

Soak the roots for 20-40 minutes. Start at the bottom and remove the styro-form which is used in most Cattleya pots. Then start to remove the bark from the middle of the bottom. as you go up the outside will become loose and most will fall out. Wash the roots as you go to remove more and loosen it further.

[jerrymeola]

Jirel your post crossed with mine but proves my point. You can not trust the looks of roots around the outside of the pot. You need to get into the center.

[Jirel]

Thanks Jerry, its a great post.

[lmartiny]

Good job Jirel. And good luck.