No live roots - repotted too late?

[oldtrlrnr]

Today I repotted two of my Oncidium/Odontoglossum hybrids. Both were apparently healthy plants, judging from their leaves and growing rate. But when I removed them from their plastic pots (had to cut the pots away), both turned out to have tightly wrapped bundles of all-dead roots filling their pots. I cut up their dead roots and removed much of them, leaving some to hopefully help anchor the plants in their new pots, which were ~ 6" diameter, a little larger than the pots they had been in. These new pots were decorative ones with side openings that should provide a lot of aeration. I used an orchid soil mix heavy on bark. On the first orchid, which had a lot of new live roots protruding up into the air, I repotted it whole. I did manage to tuck a few of its live roots down into the new soil.

The other orchid had only a very few live roots, again all above soil level. This one I decided to divide into two plants, each with 3-4 bulbs. I planted each one in pots similar to the first one, using the same soil.

I think that I waited too long to repot these orchids, right? They were probably root-bound already when I bought them about a year ago.

So, aside from repotting sooner, what might I have done better?

Appreciate any advice.

Bob
orchid novice

[Ray]

For all orchids, you need to find a balance of providing the roots with enough water, while maintaining sufficient airflow to them. Being potbound can be as suffocating as decomposiong media.

If you consider that meeting those first two criteria are, to a significant extent, determined by the interaction between the potting medium, your growing conditions, and your watering habits, I find it wise to immediately repot every new plant added to my collection, so I know exactly what's going on in the pot.

[james mickelso]

Are you sure they were dead roots? Rootys on older pbulbs in Oncids, ect are grey, brown, silvery and thin with little suppleness. Flimsy might be a good term. Only the newer roots from the younger bulbs are firm and white. Rays advice is right on. I try and repot most of the new arrivals to my collection. Of course because of where I get mine they are usually in dire need of repotting anyway. And something to keep in mind regarding oncids and their friends, they do not like to be repotted until the new growth has started throwing roots.

[oldtrlrnr]

Thanks for the helpful tips, guys.

I hope these two (now three) oncidium hybrids make it - might be too late for them, we'll see.

I'm definitely going to pay more attention to the roots of all my orchids. I suspect that as suggested my orchids were root-bound when I bought them.

Bob

[WhiteRabbit]

Oncidium alliance can be extremely resilient! I certainly can't guarantee they will make it, but I would think they stand a good chance

[diego_p]

i have two phalaenopsis that were in really bad shape when i repotted them back in november. (one had only two good roots, and the other only one after cutting the dead rotten ones) now they are both pushing out new leaves and roots. one has three new roots comng out.
i know phals arent the same as oncids but it is possible for them to survive through a tough situation.