Visit our other forums: Gardening Forums Bonsai Forum Citrus Forum Fat Cat Forum Appraisers Forum Disney Forum Hawaii Forum Vegetarian Forum Frugal Forum


Go Back   Orchid Forum Orchid Care > Orchid Care > Orchid Care Cultivation

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 06-21-2007, 08:57 PM
chefatplay's Avatar
Senior Member Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Vero Beach, Florida
Posts: 1,003
Images: 19
Thanks: 27
Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts
chefatplay is just fantasticchefatplay is just fantasticchefatplay is just fantastic
Repotting help, please...

My Brassia Rex was beautiful in bloom this year with three spikes and loads of flowers. It has been about a month now since I cut the spikes back.

After my "first fatality" I wanted to check the roots of all my plants. My Brassia is ALL roots. I am keeping it in the east window for the bright morning sun, it is beautifully green and vibrant.

Questions : Should I replant it? Should I do it now? It is currently in a 6 inch pot, go to an 8 inch pot? Do I introduce new medium? It looks like it may have been in sphag at one time, I'm scared of sphag after my phal problem. What should I use? I have some medium size bark, charcoal , perlite mix and some straight coir.

Watering questions. Does it need to rest now? Should I continue watering it every Sunday? I am using only Worm Tea for watering and misting purposes.

Finally, should I break it apart and make new plants? Should I seperate the roots, good luck on that, I think? Should I just repot the existing root ball into an 8 inch pot with something around the outside?

Help, please..

HPNX0355.jpg

HPNX0356.jpg

HPNX0357.jpg

HPNX0358.jpg

HPNX0359.jpg
__________________
Ellen
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 06-21-2007, 09:40 PM
fred's Avatar
Site Administrator
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,400
Images: 42
Thanks: 30
Thanked 128 Times in 85 Posts
fred has a reputation beyond reputefred has a reputation beyond reputefred has a reputation beyond reputefred has a reputation beyond reputefred has a reputation beyond reputefred has a reputation beyond reputefred has a reputation beyond reputefred has a reputation beyond reputefred has a reputation beyond reputefred has a reputation beyond reputefred has a reputation beyond repute
I would not split the plant at all.
that is a very nice plant.
You can tease the roots to get the old medium out cut off any dead roots
you can either repot back into the original pot or go one size up 7inch
chefatplay your bark medium sounds fine to use.
As you are in summer a watering once aweek might not be enough.
some members may say dont repot untill there is new growth on the plant.
with a root system like that i would tease the roots and go the next pot size up.
__________________
Please help support orchidgeeks.com Donations
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 06-21-2007, 10:42 PM
kmarch's Avatar
Chief Of Staff
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 5,678
Images: 1
Thanks: 6
Thanked 129 Times in 87 Posts
kmarch has much to be proud ofkmarch has much to be proud ofkmarch has much to be proud ofkmarch has much to be proud ofkmarch has much to be proud ofkmarch has much to be proud ofkmarch has much to be proud ofkmarch has much to be proud of
Don't divide it, let it grow up into a nice specimen plant which will give you multiple spikes every year.
__________________
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 06-21-2007, 10:50 PM
arleneg's Avatar
Executive Senior Member Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: west central valley area, CA
Posts: 1,729
Thanks: 3
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
arleneg is a jewel in the rougharleneg is a jewel in the rougharleneg is a jewel in the rougharleneg is a jewel in the rough
Ellen,

Repot when you see new growth. But then, when my oncidium started a couple of new growths, I procrastinated so much until the new growths couldn't grow any bigger, due to the overcrowding.

If you're not a procrastinator like I am, wait. Otherwise, repot.
__________________
Arlene
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 06-22-2007, 12:13 AM
palito's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Texas
Posts: 211
Images: 1
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
palito is on a distinguished road
I vote the same. let it become a huge specimen
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 06-22-2007, 07:53 AM
chefatplay's Avatar
Senior Member Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Vero Beach, Florida
Posts: 1,003
Images: 19
Thanks: 27
Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts
chefatplay is just fantasticchefatplay is just fantasticchefatplay is just fantastic
Thank you for your suggestions and help. I think I will keep it all in one piece. Can someone show me what new growth looks like? The only change it has made are the bulbs that came up on top of the old ones. There have been a few small green tender leaves that have seperated from the pbulbs. Is that considered new growth?

Does this plant need to rest, aka no water for period of time? The culture sheets don't put it in black and white, geek style.
__________________
Ellen
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 06-22-2007, 08:39 AM
V.I.P Member Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: South East Florida
Posts: 0
Thanks: 0
Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts
sandra is on a distinguished road
Ellen, I'm finding that with my brassias and oncidiums that they love the spahg. It's also very easy to tell when they need watering. I would re-pot this. You can put the plant in running water under the sink faucet until the roots untangle (with gentle coaxing) and all the bark falls away. Either new bark or sphag is needed at this point. If you do decide on sphag, watering is done by placing the plant in the water and letting it soak up until the top layer of the sphag is nice and moist. My oncidiums are growing like crazy since I changed from bark to sphag.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 06-22-2007, 08:49 AM
chefatplay's Avatar
Senior Member Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Vero Beach, Florida
Posts: 1,003
Images: 19
Thanks: 27
Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts
chefatplay is just fantasticchefatplay is just fantasticchefatplay is just fantastic
Sandra, I have no bark or sphag to remove except at the very top around the psbulbs. There is only packing peanuts in the middle. I'm afraid of sphag. How often do you water your brassias with sphag?
__________________
Ellen
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 06-22-2007, 10:10 AM
V.I.P Member Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: South East Florida
Posts: 0
Thanks: 0
Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts
sandra is on a distinguished road
Ellen, life will be made easy for you then. Still try removing the peanuts with running water. Whatever doesn't easily detach, leave! Don't try pulling them off. The one great thing about the sphag on brassias and oncidiums is the sphag will tell you when the plant needs watering. It will turn wheat color and obviously very dry looking. When it's wet, it's nice and moist and deep tan/brown colored. Depending where you keep it and how hot it is will indicate how often it needs watering. My larger plants (like yours) have been going about every 7-9 days even in the heat. I enjoy knowing and seeing the sphag in action....I can't explain it but when the plant soaks it up with each watering, it just seems perfect to me, that it's exactly the way it's supposed to be. If you do decide on the sphag, don't water into the pot but rather put it in water and let it soak it up.

Your plant is gorgeous. Don't divide it!

Oh, one more thing: I still use the skewers to tell when watering is required. It takes all the guesswork out of it.


Quote:
Originally Posted by chefatplay View Post
Sandra, I have no bark or sphag to remove except at the very top around the psbulbs. There is only packing peanuts in the middle. I'm afraid of sphag. How often do you water your brassias with sphag?

Last edited by sandra; 06-22-2007 at 10:17 AM.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 06-22-2007, 10:15 AM
fred's Avatar
Site Administrator
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,400
Images: 42
Thanks: 30
Thanked 128 Times in 85 Posts
fred has a reputation beyond reputefred has a reputation beyond reputefred has a reputation beyond reputefred has a reputation beyond reputefred has a reputation beyond reputefred has a reputation beyond reputefred has a reputation beyond reputefred has a reputation beyond reputefred has a reputation beyond reputefred has a reputation beyond reputefred has a reputation beyond repute
well said sandra

the orchid doctor has taught you well
__________________
Please help support orchidgeeks.com Donations
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #11 (permalink)  
Old 06-22-2007, 10:23 AM
chefatplay's Avatar
Senior Member Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Vero Beach, Florida
Posts: 1,003
Images: 19
Thanks: 27
Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts
chefatplay is just fantasticchefatplay is just fantasticchefatplay is just fantastic
Now, the only sphag I have seen is dried in a bag, that's the kind you are talking about, right? Since I am only going to go up one size pot, should I just put is around the outside or tuck it up in the middle, too? Spread everything out? so many questions, thanks for being patient.... Will I get spikes next year since I am going to repot into a slightly bigger pot this year?
__________________
Ellen
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #12 (permalink)  
Old 06-22-2007, 12:17 PM
Member Photobucket
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Broward County, South Florida
Posts: 351
Thanks: 4
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
NancyG is on a distinguished road
This may sound like a dumb question... Are all those pot bound roots healthy roots? I just repotted a few orchids in semi/hydroponics pellets and I took off a bunch of roots that were brown and didn't turn green when I soaked in water. What color should the roots be when they are healthy?

NancyG
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #13 (permalink)  
Old 06-22-2007, 12:36 PM
V.I.P Member Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: South East Florida
Posts: 0
Thanks: 0
Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts
sandra is on a distinguished road
Ellen, the sphag. out here will be found compacted and dried/dehydrated. Soak it for just a couple of minutes and squeeze the excess water out before wrapping the plant in it. Get whatever you can in between the roots but don't worry too much about that, the sphag. will rise/expand a little when watered.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #14 (permalink)  
Old 06-22-2007, 01:39 PM
Cynthia, Prescott, AZ's Avatar
Super Moderator Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Arizona
Posts: 2,687
Thanks: 0
Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts
Cynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond reputeCynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond reputeCynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond reputeCynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond reputeCynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond reputeCynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond reputeCynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond reputeCynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond reputeCynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond reputeCynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond reputeCynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond repute
Well, untangling the roots will let you see which roots are alive and which are dead, and you can clean out the dead ones. BUT, if you are going to disturb the roots that much, you really need to wait for the new growths. I think, until you have seen new growths, and then know what they are, you may as well just move the plant up to the slightly larger pot with the least disturbance to the old roots, then the next time you repot, it will probably be time to tear into the roots (with new grows a couple of inches long) to remove the dead roots, and probably to divide the plant. If the plant is starting to put new growths on top of older growths, it is probably going to create a difficult job of repotting in the future because of the severe intertwining. However, dividing should be postponed until you have a little more experience with orchids, and especially until the critical time arrives when the new growths are at the right stage, hence don't divide now. Keep an eye on the way the growth is proceeding so you will know what a "new growth" looks like in the future.
__________________
Cynthia

Prescott Orchid Society
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #15 (permalink)  
Old 06-22-2007, 03:41 PM
chefatplay's Avatar
Senior Member Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Vero Beach, Florida
Posts: 1,003
Images: 19
Thanks: 27
Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts
chefatplay is just fantasticchefatplay is just fantasticchefatplay is just fantastic
Nancy, I have been taught if they are firm, leave them alone. If they are brown and mushy, take them out. All of the roots of my Brassia are brown, I guess that's okay, the plant is great. My Phals, on the other hand, turn green, but they have yellow ones too that are firm. My Vanda's turn green, too.

Maybe someone will educate us further on this.
__________________
Ellen
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #16 (permalink)  
Old 06-22-2007, 04:40 PM
Member Photobucket
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Broward County, South Florida
Posts: 351
Thanks: 4
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
NancyG is on a distinguished road
Thanks Ellen,

It is confusing which ones are good and which ones should go.

NancyG
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #17 (permalink)  
Old 06-22-2007, 09:40 PM
Cynthia, Prescott, AZ's Avatar
Super Moderator Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Arizona
Posts: 2,687
Thanks: 0
Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts
Cynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond reputeCynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond reputeCynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond reputeCynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond reputeCynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond reputeCynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond reputeCynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond reputeCynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond reputeCynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond reputeCynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond reputeCynthia, Prescott, AZ has a reputation beyond repute
When removing old roots, I like to start at the back of the plant and snip off the oldest roots from the oldest bulbs, right at the base of the rhyzome, which are by far the most likely to be dead. I will gereally use my pruners to press on the side of the root near the bulb to see if it collapses. Then cut it off if I think it is dead and look at the cut. If I see signs of life in the cut, or find that there was some clearly live roots at the end of the cut off root, I slow way down and feel every root for life. Usually by the time you get to these live roots, there is a lot less root mass to be checking. Firm roots are usually alive unless they are very black, which generally means thay are sort of petified. Color is very undependable a predictor of life in the roots.
__________________
Cynthia

Prescott Orchid Society
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #18 (permalink)  
Old 06-27-2007, 03:55 PM
chefatplay's Avatar
Senior Member Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Vero Beach, Florida
Posts: 1,003
Images: 19
Thanks: 27
Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts
chefatplay is just fantasticchefatplay is just fantasticchefatplay is just fantastic
Well, I repotted the Brassia today. I went from a 6 inch to a 7 inch pot. The root system was quite interesting. A lot of healthy firm roots. Many of the roots had grown through the peanuts in the center, so it took some time to break them apart and get the roots out. I found quite a few new root growths that made me happy.

I used sphag. I took Sandra and Fred's advice on that one. It was previously in sphag, so I put it back. I put bark on the bottom 2 inches and then placed the plant with sphag in the middle and lightly packed around the roots. When placed in the pot, there were a few open spaces, so I very lightly filled the spaces with sphag.

Boy, I hope I did this right. I didn't use much sphag at all. I bought a brick for $4.99 and still have almost all of it.

I'm still on vacation, so if anybody has any suggestions, advice, I will take it. I have the time to correct mistakes.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg HPNX0369.jpg (50.0 KB, 15 views)
File Type: jpg HPNX0370.jpg (33.8 KB, 12 views)
File Type: jpg HPNX0371.jpg (42.0 KB, 9 views)
__________________
Ellen
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #