Ridiculously tight rootball

[jsehorn]

Yesterday I repotted a Catt that I bought a year ago. It seemed to be planted in a standard bark mix. It was so overgrown in it's pot that it was simply impossible to untangle the rootmass. There was just no way. No way at all. I've had this problem before, and mostly I just do my best to get a little of the old potting mix off, and then drop it into a new pot, but this still leaves a lot of the old mix in place. I've read that using a knive and cutting off the lower 1/3 of the rootmass can be helpful, but this sounds extreme.

Anybody have any tips? Is it okay to leave that much of the old mix still on the plant? I can't tell that it has any negative effects, but I know it is against common procedure, so it makes me uncomfortable to do it, haha.

[berniep]

G'Day Jsehorn

In a case like this I usually soak it in water, not only does it loosen the mix but also makes the roots more pliable.

Cheers
Bernie

[orchids4me]

I do what Bernie just said. Only one instance recently had I encountered a onc. That was in its seedling pot roots coming out the slits and grown over and around then under and the growers had potted it into another pot still in its seedling pot with some bark added. Boy was that a job!!!! Took me 3 hrs and snips cutting away the seedling pot from the middle of its root knot ball mess. Good thing I'm so patient lol.
Emmaye

[plucker]

If the psudobulbs are healthy, then I hack away. I shorten them and thin them out a bit, which allows more airation and the plant likes you for it.

Dont be too concerned, catts are pretty tough.

[syndywindy]

I've had this also, and I soak the heck out of it until the roots become more pliable and then start untangling. I hate leaving old medium when repotting. It happens sometimes, but I hate it, so I really work at getting it out. Sometimes I will lose a few roots, but in my mind it's better for the plant.