S/H Pot size recommendation - Orchid Board

Um... · #1 05-08-2012, 09:21 PM

Hi all! This is my first post, but I have lurked for a while now and have gotten a lot of great information for my budding addicti... err, hobby.

I recently picked up a very healthy, albeit completely overgrown Catt 'Magnificent Watermelon Gold' and want to transplant it into S/H, but am not sure what pot size I should transfer it to. It is currently in a 6" pot, but it has many aerial roots as well as a lot of new root growth. Should I keep it in the same pot size that it's in and repot the aerial roots into the S/H medium, or go with a larger pot, or ???

Another question I have is should this plant, which is healthy and thriving, be placed on a heat mat when I make the transfer or can it be left as is? I recently "saved" my Max. Tenuifolia by transferring to S/H, but this plant had little to no roots and bottom heat was (in my opinion) a big contributor to the success of new growth.

Thanks in advance!

WhiteRabbit · #2 05-09-2012, 09:57 PM

I don't grow s/h, so can't really answer other than asking how your plant fits into it's current pot? Is there room for new growth?

I'm sure others will be able to answer your other ?s, as well as have pot size advice for you. Good luck!

Zoi2 · #3 05-09-2012, 10:27 PM

With S/H its not as important to match the pot to the roots but I still use that as my guideline.
Joann

Um... · #4 05-10-2012, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

I don't grow s/h, so can't really answer other than asking how your plant fits into it's current pot? Is there room for new growth?

Thank you for the replies.

Currently the new growth coming from the rhizome are overgrowing the pot, so I know for sure that it needs to be repotted. However I'm really not sure what to do with the aerial roots. I've heard some say they trim them back because they will end up rotting anyway and I've heard some say leave them and give them a chance to survive.

I think I'm more concerned with overcrowding a similar sized pot or going with something that ends up to be too big and am looking for the happy medium in between!

Here are some pictures of the plant: