Drop-potting how to (with pictures)
 

Here's a basic tutorial of how to "drop-pot", which is not disturbing the root ball of a plant and filling in with new media around the undisturbed root ball. I thought it may be useful to beginners and others who haven't heard of this or done this before. I find that masdevallias and other orchids that hate having their roots disturbed really benefit from drop potting. Don't drop pot if the mix is totally decomposing though.


1. Have your orchid ready and squeeze or thump the pot to loosen it (in this case, a Masdevallia Angel Tears).

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...ps307d1ca5.jpg


2. Have your pot and potting mix ready.

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psa274a5ef.jpg

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9482a868.jpg


3. Remove the orchid from its container and don't disturb the root ball. You can remove drainage material if it is stuck to the roots but you don't have to.

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...pscdc0e853.jpg


4. Hold the orchid in place in the pot and fill in with potting media.

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0bf7ccdc.jpg


5. Now you have your newly "drop-potted" orchid.

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psc3ace55e.jpg

Cool- thanks for posting this, and including photos

Cool, thanks for sharing :clap:

Interesting though about Masdies... I've stripped old medium from their roots every time and never had a problem. I have problems with an Encyclia cochleata which doesn't like it's roots disturbed, but never had a problem with Masdies. But then I've never seen anyone say Encyclia cochleata has problems so mine probably don't follow the rules :coverlaugh:

Drop potting does not work for all orchid genera and it most importantly depends on the type of media used. It will end in nothing but rotten roots in the middle of the pot if continued on with Cymbidiums in fir bark. Tends to do better with Cyms in CHC.

CL

I have been able to do this before (I usually just called it "Lazy Potting", but I like "Drop Potting" better! Lol) but this is not for all plants; mainly because you never get the rotted or rotting media out from the root ball. If the media is on it's way out and you "drop pot" it, you are just asking for trouble as the old media will just start fungal or bacterial infections. I usually don't repot unless the plant has truly outgrown it's pot very quickly or the media is deteriorating. Drop Potting just allows the old roots and media to continue to head south and this has caused me more trouble than disturbing the root ball ever has.
Just an additional note for when NOT to use this method.
Steve
P.S. Really nice masdevallia by the way!! I am envious!

Myself, anything in sphag gets fresh media at least annually, but I do "drop pot" some that are potted in chc - mostly Oncidiums that outgrow their pots very quickly - like a year or less, or Dens potted in pumice and perlite combo. I also usually have either an overturned net pot or styro in the center.

Sometimes I've used drop potting for orchids that haven't had a year between repottings, for various reasons. And thanks for all your comments, suggestions, and experiences everyone. In my conditions, potting media seems to last quite a while, more so than in other peoples' conditions.

I'm gradually switching over to lava rock and LECA media so that I can drop-pot without fear of rot.

Even if you eliminate the decomposition issue by using inert media, there is still the problem of the buildup of minerals and waste products, so it should be completely removed and replaced periodically.


Ray Barkalow
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Wouldn't a regular flush with water eliminate the issue of build up/waste products in a non-s/h growing situation?

I've been using LECA for several years now and only rip off the media when something has outgrown my size limit - 10" clay pot. I've never noticed any ill effects from up potting to bigger pots but do notice some decline when I divide and start over again.

Brooke