Sticking an aquarium air pump inside my pot

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

OW, I agree with you except on the dry bark. Not that that's a bad idea but, I like to rinse the fines off my bark first, as you know it can clog the roots.

I have a cheap plastic colander and just put the orchid bark in that and shake it (outdoors, or over a trash can). Any little bit of fines left after that, I don't worry about too much.

[rbarata]

I think dry bark is easier to repot 'cause when you poke the pot most of the large voids left inside the pot disapear. With wet bark it's much harder.
But one can rinse it to get rid of the smallest materials and let it dry again before repoting.

[greenpassion]

OW, I wasn't aware that bruised roots become rotted? I've never thought of that before...

[eager2learn]

Okay,

So rinse the bark of the fine dust first.

Wait for it to dry.

Then pot.

Bruises become root rot.

Key info.

Thank you.

Ya no quiero vivir sin ti a mi lado.

[camille1585]

The thing with orchids is that there is no one correct way to do things. It works to repot with dry bark, but it works equally well with wet bark. Both are commonly done.

I've been repotting Phal the last couple years always with freshly soaked bark, and never had issues with it. I don't notice much of a difference with dry bark when trying to get it to settle evenly in the pot. The roots are in the way all the same!

I do soak the roots for 5 minutes before potting, it makes them more pliable and less likely to break when trying to stuff them back in the pot.

[eager2learn]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

Pretty simple. I mostly use terracotta pots, though plastic pots are OK. Pot should be just big enough to fit the roots (or if few roots, try a 4-inch pot). Whatever potyou use should be well drained.

Bottom inch or so of medium in the pot should be something inert. Pebbles about 1 inch diameter are fine if you want a little weight for a light pot that might tip. If weight is no concern, use styrofoam chips, or plastic packing peanuts. Above that, another inch of half inert material, half orchid bark. Fill the remainder of the pot with orchid bark. BTW, I get my orchid bark at places like Lowe's or Home Depot, about $5 for 8 quarts.

You want the plant to be secure in the pot. Stakeor tie as needed. Also, I pot using dry bark, wait a couple days before watering, this reduces the likelihood of small bruises on roots becoming root rot.

whats the inert material for?

---------- Post added at 08:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:14 PM ----------

Originally Posted by camille1585

I do soak the roots for 5 minutes before potting, it makes them more pliable and less likely to break when trying to stuff them back in the pot.

good tip thank u

---------- Post added at 08:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:15 PM ----------

Originally Posted by camille1585

I do soak the roots for 5 minutes before potting, it makes them more pliable and less likely to break when trying to stuff them back in the pot.

good tip thank u

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by eager2learn

whats the inert material for?

Roots in a pot will grow down into medium as well as laterally. Mostly, those roots are trying to hold onto something, and pull in water, with acquiring nutrients as a lesser task.

Roots that grow downward may go into medium that stays damp all the time. Organic material deep in the pot may rot, break down, and clog pore space in the medium, potentially encouraging root rot. The inert material provides something for roots to hold onto, but doesn't rot. There is a better chance that the pore space will stay open, and roots will stay healthy.

An added bonus is that most of us end up with scrap styrofoam from purchased electronics and other fragile items. If styrofoam recycling is not available, using the styrofoam as part of your medium re-purposes the styrofoam instead of sending it to a landfill. The free styrofoam you use also saves on bark that you have to pay for.