I can't believe it, it's done.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

OK, 700 to 800 plants repotted. On a good day, I probably repotted a little over 40 plants. But many days weren't so good. Having seen all the roots in my collection, and from some other experiences, I have come to the conclusion that fungi are a very serious problems in my GH, and I have started on a program of heavy systemic fungicide use, with a rotation schedule to follow. Many plants have been showing a bluish desication that appears to have nothing to do with lack of roots, and many others have actually had a lot of root death that can't be explained by the strange mix I am using. Plants going a year or more are fine at the roots, but many have had serous root loss in as little as 3 months (the benifits of repotting everything at the same time). So, all repots (everything) got a treatment of systemic (Phyton 27) all over and as a drench of the new mix. Then the first watering after everything was finally repotted was with a mix Cleary's (equiv.) and Subdue 2E. I have already been seeing the Phyton loose some of its effectiveness, so it will be the Cleary's and Sudue for a month as a topical spray on anything that looks like it needs it, and one more drench at the roots, then on to another systemic fugicide in my arsenal. I have been loosing plants at a very high rate, and have been blaming my mix, but I see now that that is not the problem. The problem really came to my attention when I noted that a half dozen African Violets were melting down with some kind of fungus that intially regressed with Phyton 27, but I didn't use it often enough in the beginning and then the Phyton stopped working on the violets (since gone to violet heaven). After 40 years of growing orchids I think I am beginning to learn some important lessens.

Comments on this subject will be appreciated.

[Anton]

DON'T HAVE LOTS OF PLANTS IN A GH would be my first comment.

Quality NOT quantity, smaller quantities are easier to manage. I can see Fred coming into similar problems if he doesn't get some help with his addiction soon.

It's one thing to fill a GH with orchids, but it is another to be able to look after them sufficiently to keep pests, moulds and fungi to a minimum.

I really feel sorry for you Cynthia, it's a lot of work and plants down the gurgler.

Just my 2 petals worth.

I have planned mine to have "hopefully" one or two each species I like, and maybe a couple of colors of each. It's hard to control the urge, but that's the plan.

Unlike Fred, I admit "My name is Anton, and I'm an orchidoholic!" and I NEED Help.

[BillC]

Welcome back Cynthia, you have been sadly missed. Sorry to learn of your problem with the fungi, but your program may well sort it out. I'm afraid that due to lack of experience in that area I cannot offer any comment.

Bill

[chefatplay]

Welcome back, Cynthia. You were leaving to repot when I started on this great forum. I was a single orchid owner then. I now own 8 and have 4 orchids. Thanks to this forum, I have kept them all alive, so far. I look forward to your input in the future. The skewer method has worked great for me. Thank you for the tips.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Aside from the fungi problem that I am going to have to keep after, I am ever so relieved to no longer have to worry about diaper rash among my babies. It is enough of a relief to have me feeling really good right now. Anton, one of each species you like, with a color variation or two? Haa! That means you will be needing a bigger greenhouse soon. Potatoe chips anyone?

[arleneg]

Hi Cynthia,

Welcome back! We missed you.

Sorry to hear about your fungi problem. I hope all is better now and under control. How did you keep your sanity while repotting 700+ orchids?!

Talking about having a growing collection and eventually needing a greenhouse. I think I'm getting close to that! For now, I've moved a few of my 'chids outdoors. Next Monday, I'll be auctioning off a few of my Phals (which I'm not very good with ) at my orchid society's auction night. By this, I should have some space......until the delivery of four new orchids later this week.

"My name is Arlene, and I'm an orchid-holic." I, too, need help.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Actually, I very much enjoyed the repotting. Every time I started to loose that sense of enjoyment, I knew my blood sugar was down and I needed to take snack break. Repotting is a very intensive kind of fussing with your plants. The big problem I had was that I couldn't get into high speed until the weather warmed up and the process could be moved out side. I started repotting the small pots in my kitchen, with a pump type squirt bottle to wash the mix out of the roots into a 5 gallon bucket. This only worked on pots 4" and down. Bucket of mix, container of soaking sterile tools, box of pots and labels and twist ties, trays of plants, incoming and out going, and squirt water, potting mix, and fungal spray going all over, what a mess. Had to cease and clean up several times a day as I just couldn't continue with perlite under foot. Eeeek, crunch, crunch.

[fred]

Welcome back Cynthia

sorry to hear about the fungi problem you have got ontop of that now and that is the important thing.

quote=Cynthia]Potatoe chips anyone?

yep we will need them while Anton builds a bigger orchid house hehe

I used to say just one or two of each species with 2 to almost 3 orchid houses later and close to 400 orchids I give up lol

[pikevi]

Welcome back, Cynthia.

I cannot even imagine giving daily care for 800 orchids, let alone repotting all of them in a short time.

I am usually tired after repotting 10-12.

Isn't the temperature and humidity for orchids also ideal for fungi?

I hope you will overcome the fungus problem soon.

Good luck.

[sandra]

Fungi and root loss...I know it well Cynthia. It's these 2 things that pushed my novice, no-big-deal mentality of orchids into rolling up my sleeves and soaking up as much knowledge as possible. Root loss in it's entirety with 2 cattleyas and fungus on one of them. I swear, the fungus grew at night and worsened every day until I did complete surgery on the one. I was tempted at one point to keep it under continuous light to kill off the fungus but keeping it dry and new bark, it now smells of cinammon!!!!....and no more fungus....I hope.

I'm glad to see you back here. Congratulations on finishing up such a huge undertaking. You don't have to think about it now for another year. Woo-hoo! I always am reading your old threads and posts and if it weren't for the skewers, I'd be a 1 orchid owner instead of 25 now! They take all the guesswork and nail-biting out of the "should I, shouldn't I."

Looking forward to all your upcoming posts and replies. Welcome back. We missed you!

[kmarch]

Well done! Good for you! I actually don't mind repotting. It gives a chance to see what's doing well, what needs help, what needs changing, etc. About the only thing I can think of that is more rewarding than finding a pot full of big fat roots is finding a pot full of flower spikes. Welcome back!

[Anton]

Cynthia, I am restricting myself as much as humanly possible.

I am not a vanda fan, so that eliminates quite a few, and there's only a few catts that appeal, so that gets rid of a few hundred more.

As they say, the best laid plans of mice and men........

It's great to have you back.

Cynthia I have registered my Domain Name on my Website to make it easier to remember for us ol farts ( Website Edited pm Anton for details ). This will give you a chance to see what I have been collecting up to date.

There's a lot more to add once they flower.

[prisana]

Welcom back Cynthia, I feel tired just picturing you repotting all your 'chids and all the fungi problem just added to the already tough work...glad you got that out of the way...until next year..

[Maddy]

Welcome back! Sorry to hear about the fungus problems.

I've been doing some mass repotting of my own the past couple of months - multiple plants, not just orchids. I find it rather relaxing, actually. And I;m starting to think fourth time may be the charm with an anthurium. This is the first one that's lived this long for me, and it's putting out new leaves...

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

By the way, the skewer thing is not my idea, and I really don't use it, except for an experiment or two to see how it works. Just gathered up info from elsewhere of what I considered a great way for beginners to keep out of trouble and posted it.

Anton, Cattleyas and Catt clones are probably something that will grow on you in the future. I have seedling sized clones, maybe 50, that I have been collecting very cheaply as I buy them in 5 plug bags for our orchid society, 1 for me, 4 for the society, and will grow them up thru the blooming stage and just see if I like any of them. I am quite willing to part with plants that don't earn their keep, and I am sure a lot of these won't hit my fancy. But since pictures never do full justice to a plant, and sometimes do too much justice, this is my way of seeing the real thing.

[PhalPal]

Congrats on a big job done Cynthia! I can't imagine having so many to re-pot each year. Your post will help to encourage me to keep my collection under 30!

[Ellen]

Cynthia