How tightly do you pack your medium?

[Cym Ladye]

I have found what genera you are potting and what media you are using dictates how hard you pack. That said, the plant should not wiggle in the pot when you are finished. Tapping the sides of the pot ensures the mix (if other than moss) gets around the roots and tamping with a tool or merely pressing with your fingers around the edges of the pot should be the goal. As to how hard to pack, I use this test on my Cymbidiums: gently lift the plant by the base of the leaves and if the pot does not fall off you should be good.

CL

[Call_Me_Bob]

thats how i test too! and then i dunk under water. and if any bark floats, take it out, and see how much is left. and add more if needed

[isurus79]

The golden rule that I have always been taught is that after potting you should be able to pick up the plant, not supporting the pot and it should all come together as one. That is how tight it needs to be. Needless to say I cram the media in pretty tightly. You can prevent roots from breaking by soaking them for 4 or 5 minutes to make them rubbery. Don't worry about snapping roots because you should be repotting as the new ones are just breaking out of the new growth. Orchid roots are designed to be destroyed after only a brief period which is why they put out a fresh new set with every new growth.

[Call_Me_Bob]

i am a bit more careful on small plants or keikis that have few roots. or ones with roots

[silken]

Well, I re potted a Nobile dendrobium today and actually picked up the plant and the pot and contents came with it I didn't tempt fate by holding the plant up for too long or shaking it or anything!

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by silken

Well, I re potted a Nobile dendrobium today and actually picked up the plant and the pot and contents came with it I didn't tempt fate by holding the plant up for too long or shaking it or anything!

Good thing too!!

[orchids3]

Gary Hauserman at EFG orchids did a potting demomstration with spag.. He said loose! I dont use moss so cant speak for myself.
Impossible to put stalite in tight enough to keep the plant from comming out with a lift. The media is just too heavy but I do bounce the pot on the bench and tap the side to fill around roots. Plants seem firm when pushed gently from side to side though - agree that the plant should not move around in the pot. (Speaking mostly of cymbidiums)
I dont like potting sticks for fear of spreading virus.

[Cym Ladye]

Orchids3,

When I used bark, I used 1/2 pvc pipe about 10" long with caps on each end. The way I used them, there seldom was contact with the plant, but they can easily be made and easily sterilized in clorox as needed. This is not true for the old wooden potting sticks.

Now that I use CHC and coir more and more, just the finger pressure around the edge of the plant holds the cyms firmly.

CL

[cythaenopsis]

I would think that very tightly packed is not a good thing, as the roots need some room to grow. Plus, if the potting mix is too densely packed, won't that promote root rot?

[Kelo]

If you use something like chunky bark there isn't a problem. I wouldn't do it with fine grade medium