Dend. Nobile- Re-pot?

[Gladys47]

I have been on vacation for a while. I had thought these would be ok till next spring. My first Nobiles so I don't really know anything but what I've read. This is what I come homr to. They pots fall over, the plants fall out of pot. No matter what I do theres an issue.I see no medium in pot. I really want these to blooom on time . as I said they are my first. Should I pot up? repot completely. Prop up pots and leave them alone? HELP please! Also the plants dont look quite as well as when I left, but It was extremely hot and my caretaker works long hours so maybe they got kind of dried out tho I know she did her best. I trust her completly.I kind of think I should pot up but want advice/ second opinion. How big pot up. I think those are 1 1/2" pots, tho maybe 2". Wouldn't a 3" be too big? What would you do?
Thanks , Gladys
PS . Do these mount well? Dend. Red emperor? These were bag babies . Early spring.

[tom499]

I like a messy den. I've seen some huge beauties that grew out of their pot long ago and have keikei's we'd be growing in 12inch pots. The only issue is making sure the plant gets the water it needs. the ones i saw were growing in a tropical greenhouse on wet matting.

For the rest of us though, a re pot is alot easier. I would choose a pot you can get most of the roots in with abit of space for root growth. its ok to have some root hanging over. Getting fresh medium is usually the most important aspect, as it gives it what the plant wants most.

a repot would make it easier to keep it watered well also

wait for a few other replies though, I dont want to be your only advice

[kmarch]

The pot size is right for the plant. Dens like tight pots and usually look as if they're in a pot that is way to small for the plant but that is, nonetheless, what they like. So go ahead and repot but use the same size pot they're currently in. They will have a tendency to spill over because they will be top heavy. You can lessen this in a couple ways, 1) use a taller (but not wider) pot and put some rocks in the bottom, 2) pot as usual but set the potted orchid inside another larger pot wiht rocks in the bottom and around the sides (between the 2 pots). i did the second way with mine.

Cheers

[Gladys47]

I'll try the second option. Whatever it takes to keep from finding them on the floor everyday!
Thanks, Gladys

[Sharyn]

Gladys: Your dens look good. Put your present pots inside another larger clay pot - this will keep them more stable. You can also try a stake to hold up the cane. I'm growing my first nobile this year and understand that repotting shouldn't be done until after blooming, which probably will be this winter for me.

I'm ready to stop the fertilizers after August and the nobiles need cool temps at night for about a month so the buds can form. I'll see if I can find Jerry Meola's posts on this. I'm still learning myself about the Nobile dens, so we can learn together!

[BIGALORCHIDMAN]

kmarch is right. I have a dendrobium nobile and most dendrobiums do not like to be potted in a big pot. It should bloom around early spring.