Post a reply

Avatar for Florence48
Nov 6, 2023 6:26 AM CST
Thread OP
Feltham, Middlesex
Hi, I've had some very helpful feedback after asking questions about my orchid and its flourishing. Thank you. My question today is that the pot seems very small for the size of the plant. If it was a 'normal' plant I would repot, but I understand Orchids need different handling. Can anyone advise me? Thank you
Thumb of 2023-11-06/Florence48/ca8a61

Thumb of 2023-11-06/Florence48/a63139

Thumb of 2023-11-06/Florence48/540dd5
Image
Nov 6, 2023 7:23 AM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- ๐ŸŒน (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
That looks fantastic! Is there moss in the pot, or just chunks of bark?
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
๐Ÿ‘€๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜‚ - SMILE! -โ˜บ๐Ÿ˜Žโ˜ปโ˜ฎ๐Ÿ‘ŒโœŒโˆžโ˜ฏ
The only way to succeed is to try!
๐Ÿฃ๐Ÿฆ๐Ÿ”๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿพ๐ŸŒบ๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒผ๐ŸŒน
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
๐Ÿ‘’๐ŸŽ„๐Ÿ‘ฃ๐Ÿก๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿ‚๐ŸŒพ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿโฆโง๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‚๐ŸŒฝโ€โ˜€ โ˜•๐Ÿ‘“๐Ÿ
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
Avatar for Florence48
Nov 6, 2023 7:30 AM CST
Thread OP
Feltham, Middlesex
Thanks for the reply . There's no moss, only bark. So the pot's OK then?
Image
Nov 6, 2023 7:36 AM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- ๐ŸŒน (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
I think it will need a bigger pot soon, or at least some holes or slits cut into the current pot so the roots can get out and roam around. If it was my plant, I would wait until the flowers are finished to do anything beyond admiring it.

You might find some value &/or inspiration in this discussion about house-grown (vs. greenhouse grown or tropical, always-outside) orchids:
The thread "Orchids as houseplants" in Houseplants forum
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
๐Ÿ‘€๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜‚ - SMILE! -โ˜บ๐Ÿ˜Žโ˜ปโ˜ฎ๐Ÿ‘ŒโœŒโˆžโ˜ฏ
The only way to succeed is to try!
๐Ÿฃ๐Ÿฆ๐Ÿ”๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿพ๐ŸŒบ๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒผ๐ŸŒน
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
๐Ÿ‘’๐ŸŽ„๐Ÿ‘ฃ๐Ÿก๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿ‚๐ŸŒพ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿโฆโง๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‚๐ŸŒฝโ€โ˜€ โ˜•๐Ÿ‘“๐Ÿ
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
Avatar for Florence48
Nov 6, 2023 7:46 AM CST
Thread OP
Feltham, Middlesex
Thank you so much for your reply. Your advice is much appreciated.
I tip my hat to you. Acorn Hurray!
Image
Nov 6, 2023 8:25 AM CST
Name: Billsc
SC
Florence, If you were to decide to repot your orchid now, my first advice would be to cut the bloom spikes off, -- down to about 1 or 2 inch stubs -- but your flowers will fade relatively quickly then. I would enjoy the existing flowers until they are gone, then repot. I'm guessing you are in the UK, so I'm not familiar with your weather, but think I would be inclined to wait until spring to do anything. I'm partial to clay pots and fir bark mixes, especially for beginning growers, because they dry out faster, reducing the chance of root rot. Those outer sleeves they ship those plants in scare me, because I find too many of them in the big box stores half full of water, and that tends to tell new growers that that is the way you grow orchids, and it "ain't" so. You have a nice looking plant, keep up the good work, and enjoy. Bill
Avatar for MsDoe
Nov 6, 2023 8:28 AM CST
Southwest U.S. (Zone 7a)
Hello Florence 48, and welcome to the forum.
First, I'd wait until it's through blooming to repot. It's OK to repot when they're in bloom if they really need it, but I think your plant will be fine if you wait a bit.
These orchid roots need light and air to do well. The main reason to repot is because the bark medium breaks down over time. It then packs down, retains too much water, and slowly suffocates those wonderful green roots.
When you do repot, start with a clear, plastic slotted orchid pot, just a little larger than the current one. The clear, slotted pot helps air and light get to the roots.
Get some new bark, there are various choices. I like just plain medium bark chips, I add a couple of small river rocks to add some weight to the pot. Some growers add other ingredients, choose what works for you. Moss can be used, but is more difficult to manage watering, in my opinion.
Unpot the plant, and rinse off all the old medium. ONLY cut off roots that are clearly dead, black, mushy, slimy. If they look a little iffy--leave them!
Put the plant in the new pot, work the new bark in around the roots. I use a chopstick to help.
New bark holds less water than the old, you may have to increase watering for the first six months or so.
Then proceed with good care so it will bloom again for you!
Care is different than for other houseplants, but they're really not difficult.
Please post again if you have questions.
Welcome!
Avatar for Florence48
Nov 6, 2023 8:40 AM CST
Thread OP
Feltham, Middlesex
Thank you so much for your helpful advice. I've been terrible at keeping plants until I retired, always rushing around previously. I think it's taking a bit of time and patience, which I have now and these wonderful forums. I've decided to wait to repot until the flowers go, perhaps in spring as suggested. I was looking at moss but reading your advice I think I'll go for bark. My son thinks I've turned into a dotty old lady as I talk to them. I have two Orchids now, my first 2 ever and they are so beautiful. This was my first one. They both have bloomed beautifully. Thanks again Acorn Hurray! I tip my hat to you.
Avatar for MsDoe
Nov 6, 2023 12:23 PM CST
Southwest U.S. (Zone 7a)
You really must start hanging out with other dotty plant people! It's a wonderful hobby.
https://www.osgb.org.uk/about-...
https://www.osgb.org.uk/member...
Last edited by MsDoe Nov 6, 2023 12:26 PM Icon for preview
Image
Nov 6, 2023 5:59 PM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- ๐ŸŒน (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
Happy to reply, Florence! Best luck. : )

...Plenty of dotty plant people on this site. My kids call me crazy plant lady. They know better than to stick the "old" in there, accurate or not. LOL!
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
๐Ÿ‘€๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜‚ - SMILE! -โ˜บ๐Ÿ˜Žโ˜ปโ˜ฎ๐Ÿ‘ŒโœŒโˆžโ˜ฏ
The only way to succeed is to try!
๐Ÿฃ๐Ÿฆ๐Ÿ”๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿพ๐ŸŒบ๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒผ๐ŸŒน
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
๐Ÿ‘’๐ŸŽ„๐Ÿ‘ฃ๐Ÿก๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿ‚๐ŸŒพ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿโฆโง๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‚๐ŸŒฝโ€โ˜€ โ˜•๐Ÿ‘“๐Ÿ
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
Avatar for Florence48
Nov 6, 2023 6:22 PM CST
Thread OP
Feltham, Middlesex
I've only got a balcony, which was decimated last year by pigeons and only my warm wishes rose survived . I have netting up now and have restocked the plants. Hopefully they will be blooming lovely by next year ๐Ÿคฃ. Thanks everyone, great advice. Thank You! Hurray! I tip my hat to you.
Image
Nov 6, 2023 8:09 PM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- ๐ŸŒน (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
A rose & an orchid are a great start, but you'll need a lot more plants if you want this crowd to label you as dotty or crazy. If you're impatient about it, maybe you could move the orchid twice a day from morning sun to afternoon...? Take it to the bathroom when you shower for some steam?
LOL!
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
๐Ÿ‘€๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜‚ - SMILE! -โ˜บ๐Ÿ˜Žโ˜ปโ˜ฎ๐Ÿ‘ŒโœŒโˆžโ˜ฏ
The only way to succeed is to try!
๐Ÿฃ๐Ÿฆ๐Ÿ”๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿพ๐ŸŒบ๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒผ๐ŸŒน
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
๐Ÿ‘’๐ŸŽ„๐Ÿ‘ฃ๐Ÿก๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿ‚๐ŸŒพ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿโฆโง๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‚๐ŸŒฝโ€โ˜€ โ˜•๐Ÿ‘“๐Ÿ
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
Avatar for Florence48
Nov 6, 2023 10:34 PM CST
Thread OP
Feltham, Middlesex
The Orchids are indoors. The rose is on the balcony, along with two Azaleas one purple one orange, a yellow Jasmine and an Irish Clover, all hopefully will flower next year! The clover only survived as I bought it indoors while the pigeons were there. Does this mean I'm a crazy old plant lady now? ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ. Hilarious! Hilarious!
Image
Nov 7, 2023 7:34 PM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- ๐ŸŒน (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
LOL! I'm not on the committee that decides, but I think it's a wonderful start, even if not officially crazy,
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
๐Ÿ‘€๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜‚ - SMILE! -โ˜บ๐Ÿ˜Žโ˜ปโ˜ฎ๐Ÿ‘ŒโœŒโˆžโ˜ฏ
The only way to succeed is to try!
๐Ÿฃ๐Ÿฆ๐Ÿ”๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿพ๐ŸŒบ๐ŸŒป๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒผ๐ŸŒน
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
๐Ÿ‘’๐ŸŽ„๐Ÿ‘ฃ๐Ÿก๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿ‚๐ŸŒพ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿโฆโง๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‚๐ŸŒฝโ€โ˜€ โ˜•๐Ÿ‘“๐Ÿ
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
Image
Nov 7, 2023 7:37 PM CST
Name: Bea
PNW (Zone 8b)
Bulbs Native Plants and Wildflowers Spiders! Solar Power Hibiscus Hydrangeas
Peonies Hummingbirder Houseplants Hostas Keeps Horses Zinnias
I agree
Iโ€™m so busy... โ€œI donโ€™t know if I found a rope or lost a horse.โ€
Avatar for Florence48
Nov 8, 2023 4:14 AM CST
Thread OP
Feltham, Middlesex
Thank you for all your comments useful and humorous. Greatly appreciated Thank You! Hurray!
Image
Nov 11, 2023 8:28 AM CST
Name: Debi
Weirsdale FL (Zone 9b)
I am truly a crazy plant lady and I'm old! After my phals stop blooming I attach them to a piece of cork or porous wood or a tree fern little log( available on Amazon Your balcony is perfect to hang it there. Affix the plant with zip ties, water frequently until the roots attach a ring it in for the winter. In the spring find him a comfy spot on the balcony and leave out for a bit of chilling. You'll be excited every year like I am when you see the spikes appear!
Only the members of the Members group may reply to this thread.
Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by Murky and is called "Ballerina Rose Hybrid"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.