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Aug 1, 2012 9:53 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Today was "dunk day" and I got inspired to re-pot a couple of my little up-and-comers. This one, Lc.Renate has really wound itself up inside the pot, as well as putting lots of new roots out sideways into the air. I'm stumped as to what to do here.

Do I unwind all the wound up ones, trim and clean then stuff every root into the new pot? I'm really worried to break off a lot of healthy roots if I do that. The roots are very fragile.

OR should I just hose it off, trim, and clean out as much old medium as I can, add cinnamon and stuff it as is into the new pot with new medium? Do I bend the aerial roots down into the pot, too? If I don't I'm going to have to use a much bigger pot or just let them wave about as they have been. (this is hard for me, being a 'traditional' gardener my instinct is to cover roots . . . )

Second issue, I broke a pot as I was moving everybody around, and found out that my terracotta pots seem to not be made entirely of terracotta any more! Looks like they're made of some grey clay, then dipped into something that makes the outside surfaces look like terracotta. Not really a big concern but, a bit of a cheat at least! Any thoughts?? The lower piece in the pic is a "real" terracotta piece.
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Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Aug 1, 2012 1:17 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Ursula
Fair Lawn NJ, zone 7a
Orchids Plumerias Cactus and Succulents Region: New Jersey Region: Pennsylvania Native Plants and Wildflowers
Greenhouse Ponds Keeper of Koi Forum moderator Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Adeniums
I am really bad when it comes to re-potting. I would probably soak the roots really well so they are more pliable and then gently pop the whole thing into the next size pot or basket, after carefully picking out old bark. But as I said, I probably could use some lessons on re-potting into bark. I don't like to bury fresh roots too deeply, they seem to grow happy as is.
I don't really worry about those pots. I use whatever .... Smiling
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Aug 1, 2012 2:06 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Thanks, that's what I'm inclined to do, too.

I picked away at it with chop sticks, and only managed to break off a couple more nice healthy roots. So I'm finished cleaning and messing with it and will just pop it into the new pot after dusting with cinnamon.

As you say, not particularly worried about the clay pots, but I do wonder what might be in that terracotta coloring they're using. At least with the solid terracotta clay, there's no chemical concerns.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Aug 2, 2012 1:53 AM CST
Name: bree
North coast NSW Australia
Region: Australia Plant and/or Seed Trader Seed Starter Herbs Dog Lover I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Charter ATP Member Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Orchids Ponds
Tricky Shrug! . I'd do what Ursula said, soak them and try bending them into the next size pot. I wouldnt want to go up to a pot to big just to fit those new roots in. I'd leave the other roots as they are and not pull them apart.
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Aug 2, 2012 6:14 AM CST
Name: Kathy
Western MA

Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Dog Lover Region: Northeast US Orchids Irises
Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Sometimes I pop the old pot into a bigger one and stuff around with bark. I also like my aerial roots so I leave most exposed.
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Aug 5, 2012 8:01 PM CST
Name: Jim Hawk
Odessa, Florida (Zone 9b)
Birds Master Gardener: Florida Hibiscus Greenhouse Charter ATP Member Garden Photography
Bromeliad Region: Florida Orchids Roses Tropicals Region: United States of America
If I am going to pop the old pot into a bigger one, I break it up a bit with a hammer. I would also soak the roots to soften them, trim away the dead roots, pull out the old potting materials as much as possible and let the aerial roots continue to be aerial roots.

Jim
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