About the roots stuck to the clay pot -
yes, I used a hammer on a couple of occasions. But that can get pretty messy and the roots might suffer.
Cattleyas/Laelias really stick to those pots. Depending on which one it is, I have placed the Orchid bare root into the pot and secured it so it doesn't move. I find that after a couple of months ( daily waterings) the plant is well established this way. If it is a small Orchid, one can always place the whole thing eventually into a next size empty clay pot. Some Cattleyas and especially Schomburgkias can be grown very nicely this way, since they are now essentially mounted.
