Thoughts on re-using bark and sphagnum ?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I don't necessarily repot every orchid every year, but I will repot if the material does show decomposition.

If the potting media is mostly inorganic materials, then I only change out the organic constituents and save the inorganic stuff if I feel they're still usable. Usually if this is the case, repotting these orchids are very infrequent.

If they are in highly organic potting media that stay moist or wet a large proportion of the time, then these are the ones that get the potting media changed out as soon as the first signs of decomposition occur.

Dracula spp. are notorious for going downhill quick if they are not repotted into fresh moss often. Many Masdevallias, certain Stelis, certain Platystele, many in the Pleurothallis complex, and many other Pleurothallids that can be grown in traditional pots or net pots are the same way. I'd probably say these orchids would need the moss changed out every 8 months to 1 year, however soon the moss starts to look grungy.

I wouldn't really reuse organic potting materials because if it was showing signs of decomposition, then it could rapidly start breaking down when reused; but if it was inorganic and cleaned before use, then I'd feel safer doing it.

If throwing the old organic potting material seems like a waste, then composting could be the way to go, or just continue to dump the organic stuff under the trees or in the flower beds of your yard.

---------- Post added at 11:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:39 PM ----------

Btw, I don't grow a whole lot of Catasetinae, and of those I do grow, I haven't had them for a long time, so I wouldn't be able to say whether they need to be repotted every year or not with great confidence, but so far, I haven't seen the need to.

I've also had the experience of having failed to have a Catasetum thrive if they were grown in a pot that was far too large and if they were grown in moss.

So far, I've found growing a Catasetum in a pot that was just large enough to fit the roots in should be good enough to accommodate just enough subsequent growths for at least 1 growing season.

[Fairorchids]

This thread illustrates why I am not a fan of orchiata.

Most orchids outgrow their pot in 2-3 years.
Terry Root repotted his stud plants (Paphs) annually.

Even if the material lasts 8-10 years, what's the point?

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Fairorchids

This thread illustrates why I am not a fan of orchiata.

Most orchids outgrow their pot in 2-3 years.
Terry Root repotted his stud plants (Paphs) annually.

Even if the material lasts 8-10 years, what's the point?

I just throw the old pot in with the new stuff (assuming the media is still good), so media that lasts 8-10 years works great for me.