Help for repotting a Pat Delight Vanda in full bloom

[Robi]

Hello my husband just gave me a beautiful Pat Delight Vanda...it's absolutely gorgeous...the only problem is that it is in the ugliest plastic basket and I really really want to put it into something nicer (like a wooden basket) I have read a lot and many people say not to repot it, until I came across a post on this board saying to soak the entire basket it water and then gently remove the roots from the plastic pot.... can I really do this without harming my vanda? If not PLEASE tell me what my options are!!!

thank you so much,

Robi

I have also attached a picture of the plant and a close up of the basket!

[Kaykay]

Robi,
I wouldn't put the vanda through the trauma of prizing its roots from the basket purely because you don't like the look of the one it's in right now- they are incredibly clingy roots! Instead, I would suggest getting one of the nice wooden ones and placing the plastic one in it whole- so just surrounding it. No need to disturb the roots that way, and both you and your gorgeous vanda will be much happier!
(I agree that white plastic isn't the prettiest!)
Kay

[cb977]

I've removed vandas from baskets and although they survived they did get very stressed
It takes a long time for them to recover so...

please don't mess with perfection
This is my favorite vanda, as it was my Mom's favorite and every time I see one it makes me smile

If you really hate the basket it's in, you can try placing the entire plant, basket and all, inside a larger basket but that's the furthest I would go
on this gorgeous plant.

Kudos for the hubby

[peeweelovesbooks]

Ummm.........


Welllllllllllllllllllllllll...


I'm going to differ with my friends here. If you don't want to mess with the roots too much, why not cut the basket???? I've done that before. And, if it's a plastic basket then you can probably soak the roots until they are pliable enough to SLOWLY AND GENTLY detach from the plastic.


Having said this, I would wait until it stops blooming.


I feel your pain. I am a vanda basket hater and remove whatever vanda I buy from it as soon as possible.


Good luck!!

[Robi]

Thank you for your replies, I really hate the basket but will at least wait for it to stop blooming before I consider messing with the roots...

[stefpix]

I wonder why do you need a basket at all.
I wonder if you could cut off pieces of it where there are no roots
and see what comes off when you soak it. MAybe you dont need to take the basket off all at once.
just piece by piece...

[Swamper]

Hi Robi, nice to see you here One thing I do like about the basket you have is that someone cut a bunch of it out so the roots would be free to roam around. Sorta like boxers vs briefs?
I don't blame you for wanting to get rid of the white basket though. What were they thinking? Such a beautiful vanda too. Gorgeous.

[Ray]

I'm with "peewee".

WAIT until it is finished blooming.

Then you can clip the plastic basket into small, easy-to-remove pieces with wire cutters.

Soak the root system for a good 30 minutes and then pry the little pieces out.

[Robi]

THank you for all your help I truly appreciate all your comments!!!
Robi

[nutgirl]

I agree with Ray and Peewee, plus you'll get the satisfaction of demolishing a really ugly basket!

Maureen