incredibly root-bound stan.
 

Just got a rescue stan from a college greenhouse. It is going to flower soon, two spikes plus two finished or blasted spikes. The spikes managed to arc out of the top of the pot. I cracked off the pot because I could tell it was terribly root-bound. The roots are healthy but twine around and around very tightly. A few free roots dangled out of the pot's drain hole. I put it all in a temporary pot and lightly covered the roots to wait for bloom.
When and how should I tackle these roots ( after it blooms, of course - I want to see the bloom for ID). It is like the roots are cemented together round and round at least an inch thick. No medium to be seen. Huge root loss if I try to pry them loose from each other, I fear. Will the new root tips eventually just grow away from the mess out into the new medium if I leave it alone after repotting? New leaves and p.bulbs (when I get them) will have free roots growing into the new medium regardless, no? I plan a basket with expanded clay balls, as close to a mount as possible. Geenhouse. Thanks

Laurel

Honestly, I'd just plunk it into its new home as it is. The only downside to this system is that it will dry out more quickly than if it had media. If this is something you can compensate for, then it shouldn't be a problem. Planting with spag could help alleviate this a bit as well.

If you do need to chop up the roots, it will likely set the plant back a year (or two) with regards to blooms. As long as you chop when its in active root growth, the plant shouldn't suffer in the long run.

I second that motion, keep it intact and just let it branch out and enjoy its new space :)

I was hoping this might be the case. Thanks. I actually have two of these. The smaller one that was in a ceramic pot is described above. A larger one was in a black plastic pot. When I cut the pot away I saw the same tight wound roots, but also two bloom spikes crammed in there. It I put right away in a basket. I wonder how long those bloom spikes have been waiting. Hope they can sense that they can move now.

Laurel

Feel free to post pics. Starting to become very interested in Stanhopeas.

Here are pics of the stanhopea that is presently blooming. I was hoping the original donor to the U. would remember his plants, but when I sent him the pics he just said that they were all labeled when he left them. Labels in public places grow wings. So I've got a noid. To me it smells lightly of hyacinths when I stick my nose in the flower, but the inflorescence of 7 buds is yet to open.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonzi/

Laurel

I'm thinking maybe wardii?

I think wardii is a pretty good guess.

Thanks for the pics. Wow—so, so intricate and beautiful :)

Hi Laurel.

I hope Steve will not mind when I humbly indicate that S. anfracta (quite variable) could be a better guess.

Otherwise, yes ... you may put these plants in a basket a bit larger than the pots were, anchor the plants
and hang them up in 'Cattleya light'. Remove all decayed old compost first :) .