should I repot?

[oncidiumlover]

I purchased a com. wildcat bobcat at an orchid show a couple of weeks ago, it's in a 3 inch pot inside of a 4 inch pot. the very nice man from hilltop orchids told me to repot it into the bigger pot when it was finished blooming, but it's really loose in there. It keeps falling over because the pseudobulbs won't stay straight, they just wobble around, the spike is very tall, just over three feet I think. I just want to make sure that it's not hurting it to be sooo loose in the pot.

[jay]

Many Oncidiums do like to be cramped in their pots. However, the grower may have suggested this due to old media. If the media is breaking down then it may be time for a repot.

What is it growing in?
How does it look?
Can you see any roots? How do they look?

[oncidiumlover]

I think the roots look okay. When I do repot it I think it will be in the same size pot, only clear. It's only got two pseudobulbs, I think the bigger pot might be too big. I think the roots look okay, some pics below. It isn't doing too mucj really, no new roots have popped up, no new growths. I'm really just afraid because it's so loose the larger pseudobulb flops to one side all the time, I woke up the other morning and it had fallen over in the night.

[Sharyn]

I'd use the same pot and follow a tip that Kevin mentioned. Place some gravel in a heavier ceramic or clay pot (with drainage); then place your plastic pot inside and fill around the insert with more gravel. It will give you some weight to hold the plant upright. This works great for top-heavy plants.

I also found that small wobbly plants can be secured in their pots by placing a little styrofoam on the bottom of the pot when you re-pot. Then place a stake down INTO the styrofoam and tie one of the pbulbs to the stake. Stretch gift-wrap cording will also help secure the plant into the pot. Wrap the cord over the top of the plant between the pbulbs and secure with a knot on the side of the pot. Works like a charm and cheap!

[oncidiumlover]

So, I can wait to repot it until it's done blooming, even though the plant itself is not potted securely and tightly into the pot?
i.e. if I pick up the plant itself it comes out of the pot, the pot does not come up with it.

[Sharyn]

The only orchids that I've ever repotted while still in bloom have been phals. I usually wait until the blooms are done or plants showing new growth on the other types; however, I don't grow your type or orchid, so maybe someone else can give advice on this one.

Personally, I'd just wait until it's done blooming and then proceed to your re-pot.

[Celcat]

I will wait until the bloom is finished. This orchid will flower for approximatively 6 weeks and by the look of your plant, I think you may have 3 weeks left. The roots look fine. I am sure it can wait few weeks

[digitalgate]

tie the plant down.A moving plant is a slow growing plant.How? Tie it using the hard part between the pseudo bulb and the root.

[oncidiumlover]

Thank you all very much for your help! I will tie the plant down and repot after blooming. I'm so glad I found this wonderful place, everyone is so nice and helpful.

[tansyflower]

I had a den recently that I repotted, but it kept falling over (it was flowering so I didn't want the flowers damaged). I stuck a couple of wine corks down the side (sort of wriggled them into the mix) and it's worked brilliantly!!

[brookn]

Hi to me this plant looks like it might be a recent division. I had a chance to meet a couple of men from Hilltop recently, and have seen their potting mix. This mix looks fresh, and if it is a division as I suspect the reason it is wobbly is because it is still trying to establish itself. If you are uncomfortable with the mix, repot, but it looks fesh enough that you should not have to for a while. If you repot, do it carefully, so as not to disturb the plant or it might sulk for a while. When a plant moves around in a pot like this it continually damages the roots, so it definitely needs to be stabilized. The advice above to tie it is spot on. I am also concerned with your watering schedule, as the mix looks dry in the pics, Oncs are heavy drinkers and the skewer method will work well for you with this plant. Good luck.

[oncidiumlover]

I've been watering about every four days, fertilizing weakly every other watering. The top has been drying out a bit quicker than the middle and the bottom, I think maybe because the smaller pot that its potted in is sitting inside of the slightly larger one that he told me to repot it in? I had a hard time trying to get it out of there with it being so wobbly and the spike being so long, I 'll try again if you think it would help?

[brookn]

Well, I think that you need to go with your instincts on the repot. It could be that the mix was topped with newer mix, and underneath it is breaking down. You will just have to inspect it closely. I would only fertilize 1 time a week, and use the skewer method, when it feels cool and almost dry is the time to water. Variances in temp and humidity can change the watering time by a day or so, and the skewer is the best way to learn to judge the need for water. If you tie the plant, and do not decide to repot, I would just stabilize the pot into a larger heavier one.

[oncidiumlover]

Update, sorry it took so long. I secured the plant in the pot with gardening tie and will wait to repot.
Digitalgate, thanks for the pics, they helped out a lot!
Thank you all very much again for all of your help and advice!