Help with Onc. repot

Phalcycle · #1 (**permalink**) 08-25-2010, 11:06 PM

Hello all,

I have a few Onc. and they have been getting new growth, but then they evtually rot. I think its because my medium is too old.
So today I decided to repot, and WOW
the roots are so tight together and so rootbound.
I don't know how to get inside without haveing to cut the roots. Its in sphag moss, and bark mixutre.

It is really broken down (I think 2 years or so in the medium)

I have been using my nails to scratch the medium out, but only little comes out. The moss is really stuck.

How do I take the medium out, and what is a better medium?

THANK YOU!

orchidea · #2 (**permalink**) 08-26-2010, 01:15 AM

Funny, I just did one... Finished few min ago.
I bought it on sale, but it had a lot of fungus in the medium. I decided to repot to S/H because otherwise I have to water oncidiums every day for them not to start wrinkling on me. So all of the medium had to go....
It's NOT easy!!!!
But if you let it sit in the water for 15-30 min, then use a toothpick or something like that, it's actually possible.....

. I ran a lot of water through the roots to help loose bark to get out.
Good luck!

PocoGigio · #3 (**permalink**) 08-26-2010, 07:03 AM

Tweezers, a pair of those teeny-tiny cosmetic scissors and a chinese chopstick with a nice rounded point. Lots of water. If s/h, it needs to be sqeaky clean of all media. Back into bark, it's ok to leave some of the clingons. Oh, what fun!

FLBob · #4 (**permalink**) 08-26-2010, 07:51 AM

It's really tough removing long fiber sphag from oncidium roots. The fine roots really take ownership of the sphag.

After soaking the roots, I use a garden hose to power the loose medium free. I find that spraying from the top releases the medium from the roots, then spraying from the sides and bottom removes it.

Phalcycle · #5 (**permalink**) 08-26-2010, 07:54 AM

Thank you!
I am not used to such fine roots, but they are so stuburn. Guess the tweezers come out and it gets ready for a soak

-k- · #6 (**permalink**) 08-26-2010, 08:03 AM

The last onc I repotted soaked overnight to loosen the roots as they were bound very tight. Even after the long soak it was still a task to remove the remaining media, def a long process, I've several others that will soon be up for a repot, oh joy!!!

**orchids4me** · #7 (**permalink**) 08-26-2010, 08:33 AM

Hi,
Oh what a nightmare lol did
One about a month ago that I bought, crazy part was it was in a 3 1/2 inch pot inside a 6" pot. I've never encountered a lazy mans re pot needing to be re potted. That one took over 3 hrs to do. But if you think Onc. Are a job.... Try the Cymbidium... It was so tight in the pot I had to use tin snips to cut the pot and no way to avoid damaging a few roots that way and getting the bark out lol a nightmare and dividing it too boy that was a job or 10 lol
Emmaye

zaeem · #8 (**permalink**) 08-28-2010, 01:38 PM

my onc was growing over the mix so itwas easy to repot ,also divided into three.the mix is coco and charcoal.
zaeem

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