Repot or not

[Pokey49]

I have a sesquipedale that is coming to the end of its bloom. The plant is 16 inches tall and in a 4x4 inch pot. Should I repot it or leave it be.
Pokey

[snowflake311]

depends on the plant. Do you think it needs to be repotted? Where did you get it ? How long have you had it? Does it seem happy as is?

[Pokey49]

Got the plant in January from Lehua Orchids. Had it only 3 months. I'm told they don't like being repotted that well so I have no idea if it needs repotted. I think it needs a bigger pot but I'm not that familiar with this orchid

[snowflake311]

I do not know this orchid . If it was me I would hold off reporting if the plant is healthy. Then do more research and talk to more people about its needs and then find the right pot and mix. If the plant is healthy no need to repot right away.

Hope someone that knows the plant you have can help you better.

[Pokey49]

Its an Angraecum, I forgot to say that if that helps any

[Leafmite]

Be careful. When they are blooming size, they can be fussy about being re-potted. Soak the roots for about an hour before removing it from the pot, carefully remove the old medium so that the roots aren't hurt, then hold it in the pot and carefully place the DRY medium around the roots. Don't water it for a day or two to let the roots heal and then it should be perfectly fine to water. If you have a seedling heating mat, it would benefit the ses. to be put on it for a few weeks to help stimulate root growth (unless it is already warm where you live). I wouldn't fertilize or move it until it has a chance to begin growing new roots.
These definitely don't like being re-potted once they reach maturity but by following the 'Angraecum Potting Rules', you should be okay.

[jmmehler]

My understanding is that you do not want to mess with the roots at all. If you can break the pot apart, or just break it in pieces, just place everything in the new pot/basket (preferably basket), and then add new medium any way you can. You can try picking out rotted bark in any creative way you can think of, even chop sticks will work, but, DO NOT BOTHER THE ROOTS.

[Leafmite]

They would much prefer not to have their roots disturbed, that is certainly true. I wish that they would be grown in red lava rock from the very beginning as I did with my Ang. Mag. It would save SO much trouble.

[Pokey49]

Ok, thanks. I will ponder this a bit and decide what I want to do. I dont have the greatest success with repotting in general it does not seem like. Had several phals I have pitched after repotting. Thinking I should leave this plant alone for another blooming cycle

[Draft]

For what it's worth, I reported a blooming sized Angraecum a month ago, it was blooming size in a two inch pot AND was packed in some slightly decomposing spahgnum which creates insta-orchid root rot here even when it's not trying to recreate the big from whence it came.

So I ended up messing with its roots. Because I really don't need more fungus gnats. Or fungus. It's been about three months since the second upheaval and it's grown an appalling number of roots and half of a leaf. And (I only know that because the second time it was a victim of a pet-on-the-plant-table related accident that popped it out of its pot a second time) it's still growing. Which makes me think that there might be a timing factor. As in it needs to be in a period of active growth and not resting.

However, one thing that would render my experience "Void" is that my Angraecum was a species that had roots that were closer to being "phal-like" and not the grippy white ones that my other Ang. hybrid has. So there was no real force exerted to remove the media from the plant.

My point being: Is yes, you can probably repot it fine, and there are people who have no problems repotting their sesquipedale just fine. I would just be careful, and pay attention to the plant's state before you try anything. It will also break the pot on its own if you just want to pot the entire thing in a larger pot of you want to go the safe route.

P.S. Be really careful with highly root bound plants in tiny clay pots with hammers. Too much force with the intent of doing it quickly and you can sever some little plant feet by mistake.