Repotting a plant that was in sphagnum

[jdmatthew]

I recently purchased an oncidium (Sharry Baby) that was potted in 100% sphagnum. Upon pulling the plant from its pot to check the roots, I found that it is totally rootbound and that the roots are so closely intertwined in the sphagnum there is no way to get the old material off the roots without tearing them to bits. The old material isn't in bad shape, but there is absolutely no room for root growth. I am considering "dropping in" this plant into a more loose potting medium. Any suggestions?

[trinigirl]

I would not suggest just dropping it in. The old medium could be broken down too much and could retain too much water.

It would probably be better to risk breaking a few roots trying to get the spag off. Soaking might help, and just take off a little at a time. I have about 3 Sharry Babys, they are too beautiful.

I think you will manage well. For Texas, I would not recommend spag for oncidiums. Maybe bark will be better, medium to large.

Good luck.

[mehitabel]

A wet medium (sphag) in the middle of the pot surrounded by drier medium on the edges and bottom is a receipe for distaster for the roots in the middle. They will stay too wet. Also, if the plant is totally root-bound, the rootbound roots often have a hard time taking up water, and can actually stay too dry while the new medium on the edges is too wet.

Either way isn't too good for the plant. So don't do the "drop", unless you are absolutely certain there is no way to loosen up the roots. And if you do, observe the plant carefully for a month or so to make sure you catch the first signs of decline.

The only way to get sphag off is to pick, soak, pick, soak, pick. Repeat and repeat til you've got it. Start by soaking, then gently work under water to loosen the roots and get a bit of sphag off. Re-soak and repeat. As the root ball loosens up, it gets easier. Sphag comes apart easily under running water. Even if you can't get all the sphag out, you still want to loosen the rootbound ball up at least some if you can without tearing them apart.

If that doesn't work, I'd recommend looking the plant over carefully to see where the newest pb is. That's where the new roots will come from. Or maybe it already has some small new roots started. That's the plant's future. Make sure those thrive, and you should be okay even if you have to do the "drop".

[orchidlover55]

I agree with mehitabel, oncidium's is one of my favorite orchids. When I first started I almost dehydrated mine. My pbulb was almost dried up. I have 11 and I put 9 in a mixture and two in a a good spag moss. The one in Spag has went completely crazy roots filled my clear pot up. The other ones is doing good too and even almost dry pbulbs are almost back to normal. They look great very plump again. They are very thirsty orchids though. I have to watch them close I almost lost them one time and they were nice enough to give me another chance so I don't want to mess up again. LOL . Like mehitabel said you can soak them and pull and if you are gentle you can get alot of it out. They are forgiving and if you pull off a few they will give you another chance and grow more lifelines (roots) LOL GoodLuck

[jdmatthew]

Well, I spent almost an hour at the sink picking out sphagnum and got the roots relatively clear. There were a LOT of roots in there, enough to fit comfortably in a 5-inch pot, and it had previously been in a 3 inch.

Sphagnum is a little "root like" itself, and that made the process more challenging. I had to watch really close to make sure I was pulling moss and not root. I wish I had taken before/after pictures. I potted it up and poured through a couple of cups of water mixed with Superthrive, just in case that might help.

Thanks to all of you for your advice to a new member. I hope I didn't do more harm than good, and I'm hoping this plant may bloom this winter, but right now I'm just happy to have it in a well-draining medium. I do know that the roots have been well "massaged".

[janet_a]

don't worry, they're tough--it'll grow more roots. i know a coupleguys who regularaly whack off 20-25% of the root mass when they repot, in order to stimulate the plant to grow more. (and these guys have been growing and repotting as long as i've been alive...)

(and my sharry baby is in full bloom now for some reason--but i'm not complaining. )

[mehitabel]

JD, picking sphag is an initiation rite into the secret inner world of orchid fanatics. You just aren't an orchid person til you've picked sphag.

[jdmatthew]

I'm a pretty good banjo picker, but this is my first experience with picking spag.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Originally Posted by mehitabel

JD, picking sphag is an initiation rite into the secret inner world of orchid fanatics. You just aren't an orchid person til you've picked sphag.

Too true!

[Rivka]

Originally Posted by mehitabel

JD, picking sphag is an initiation rite into the secret inner world of orchid fanatics. You just aren't an orchid person til you've picked sphag.

this is the funniest, and truest thing i have ever read on this forum!!! and after this last week, i can proudly call myself a fanatic of the inner most circle!!