I have been using a lot of net pots with great success, especially for
Phalaenopsis and Onicidium. When it comes time to repot, I end up
having to tear a lot of roots since they often grow through the fine
mesh and cannot be removed intact. Do you think this is a problem and,
if so, any suggested solutions? I suppose I could repot more often,
before a lot of roots have grown through the mesh. Or I could go back
to clay pots. Suggestions? Thanks.

Jim

....I suppose I could also stick with inorganic media and just nest the
smaller net pot into a bigger one. Hmmm.

Jim

On Thu, 12 Aug 2004 01:09:51 -0500, James Aldridge
wrote:

I have been using a lot of net pots with great success, especially for
Phalaenopsis and Onicidium. When it comes time to repot, I end up
having to tear a lot of roots since they often grow through the fine
mesh and cannot be removed intact. Do you think this is a problem and,
if so, any suggested solutions? I suppose I could repot more often,
before a lot of roots have grown through the mesh. Or I could go back
to clay pots. Suggestions? Thanks.

Jim

....I suppose I could also stick with inorganic media and just nest the
smaller net pot into a bigger one. Hmmm.

Jim

On Thu, 12 Aug 2004 01:09:51 -0500, James Aldridge
wrote:

I have been using a lot of net pots with great success, especially for
Phalaenopsis and Onicidium. When it comes time to repot, I end up
having to tear a lot of roots since they often grow through the fine
mesh and cannot be removed intact. Do you think this is a problem and,
if so, any suggested solutions? I suppose I could repot more often,
before a lot of roots have grown through the mesh. Or I could go back
to clay pots. Suggestions? Thanks.

Jim

I recently potted up a cattleya that was in a tiny clay pot by just putting
the whole pot in a bigger one and now it's in spike Lc Mini Purple 'Blue
Hawaii'. Roots were all over the outside of the tiny pot. I figure it will
walk out of the small pot...

Anyway, you could shake out as much media as you can and leave the old pot
on when you pot up or I was thinking u could cut the old pot away?

"James Aldridge" wrote in message
...
...I suppose I could also stick with inorganic media and just nest the
smaller net pot into a bigger one. Hmmm.

Jim

On Thu, 12 Aug 2004 01:09:51 -0500, James Aldridge
wrote:

I have been using a lot of net pots with great success, especially for
Phalaenopsis and Onicidium. When it comes time to repot, I end up
having to tear a lot of roots since they often grow through the fine
mesh and cannot be removed intact. Do you think this is a problem and,
if so, any suggested solutions? I suppose I could repot more often,
before a lot of roots have grown through the mesh. Or I could go back
to clay pots. Suggestions? Thanks.

Jim

I recently potted up a cattleya that was in a tiny clay pot by just putting
the whole pot in a bigger one and now it's in spike Lc Mini Purple 'Blue
Hawaii'. Roots were all over the outside of the tiny pot. I figure it will
walk out of the small pot...

Anyway, you could shake out as much media as you can and leave the old pot
on when you pot up or I was thinking u could cut the old pot away?

"James Aldridge" wrote in message
...
...I suppose I could also stick with inorganic media and just nest the
smaller net pot into a bigger one. Hmmm.

Jim

On Thu, 12 Aug 2004 01:09:51 -0500, James Aldridge
wrote:

I have been using a lot of net pots with great success, especially for
Phalaenopsis and Onicidium. When it comes time to repot, I end up
having to tear a lot of roots since they often grow through the fine
mesh and cannot be removed intact. Do you think this is a problem and,
if so, any suggested solutions? I suppose I could repot more often,
before a lot of roots have grown through the mesh. Or I could go back
to clay pots. Suggestions? Thanks.

Jim

Anyway, you could shake out as much media as you can and leave the old pot
on when you pot up or I was thinking u could cut the old pot away?

The net pots I use have way too many holes with roots growing through
them to make it feasible to cut the pot off the root system.

I also think it would be hard to remove much medium from the root mass
without removing the orchid from the pot.

I have been leaning towards the notion that a clean cut along the
inside of the basket will lop off a lot of roots, but the root systems
are still *huge*, so I think I will be okay. After all, cutting roots
often stimulates new root growth. I will also try not to let things
get too out of hand before up-potting.

Other comments? Thank you.

Jim

Anyway, you could shake out as much media as you can and leave the old pot
on when you pot up or I was thinking u could cut the old pot away?

The net pots I use have way too many holes with roots growing through
them to make it feasible to cut the pot off the root system.

I also think it would be hard to remove much medium from the root mass
without removing the orchid from the pot.

I have been leaning towards the notion that a clean cut along the
inside of the basket will lop off a lot of roots, but the root systems
are still *huge*, so I think I will be okay. After all, cutting roots
often stimulates new root growth. I will also try not to let things
get too out of hand before up-potting.

Other comments? Thank you.

Jim

GrinAw, c'mon, Jim. Don't be lazy. /Grin

I'd spend a lot of time clipping the plastic pot before I'd resort to root
chopping. Not that it wouldn't possibly come to that, but it's not a
starting point.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!
..
"James Aldridge" wrote in message
...
Anyway, you could shake out as much media as you can and leave the old
pot
on when you pot up or I was thinking u could cut the old pot away?

The net pots I use have way too many holes with roots growing through
them to make it feasible to cut the pot off the root system.

I also think it would be hard to remove much medium from the root mass
without removing the orchid from the pot.

I have been leaning towards the notion that a clean cut along the
inside of the basket will lop off a lot of roots, but the root systems
are still *huge*, so I think I will be okay. After all, cutting roots
often stimulates new root growth. I will also try not to let things
get too out of hand before up-potting.

Other comments? Thank you.

Jim

My gosh....just cut away as much as the net as you can and pot it up again
with the old net intact. It won't breakdown and no one will know it is
there but you!
Pot away!
Garland

"Ray" wrote in message
...
GrinAw, c'mon, Jim. Don't be lazy. /Grin

I'd spend a lot of time clipping the plastic pot before I'd resort to root
chopping. Not that it wouldn't possibly come to that, but it's not a
starting point.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!
.
"James Aldridge" wrote in message
...
Anyway, you could shake out as much media as you can and leave the old
pot
on when you pot up or I was thinking u could cut the old pot away?

The net pots I use have way too many holes with roots growing through
them to make it feasible to cut the pot off the root system.

I also think it would be hard to remove much medium from the root mass
without removing the orchid from the pot.

I have been leaning towards the notion that a clean cut along the
inside of the basket will lop off a lot of roots, but the root systems
are still *huge*, so I think I will be okay. After all, cutting roots
often stimulates new root growth. I will also try not to let things
get too out of hand before up-potting.

Other comments? Thank you.

Jim

My gosh....just cut away as much as the net as you can and pot it up again
with the old net intact. It won't breakdown and no one will know it is
there but you!
Pot away!
Garland

"Ray" wrote in message
...
GrinAw, c'mon, Jim. Don't be lazy. /Grin

I'd spend a lot of time clipping the plastic pot before I'd resort to root
chopping. Not that it wouldn't possibly come to that, but it's not a
starting point.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!
.
"James Aldridge" wrote in message
...
Anyway, you could shake out as much media as you can and leave the old
pot
on when you pot up or I was thinking u could cut the old pot away?

The net pots I use have way too many holes with roots growing through
them to make it feasible to cut the pot off the root system.

I also think it would be hard to remove much medium from the root mass
without removing the orchid from the pot.

I have been leaning towards the notion that a clean cut along the
inside of the basket will lop off a lot of roots, but the root systems
are still *huge*, so I think I will be okay. After all, cutting roots
often stimulates new root growth. I will also try not to let things
get too out of hand before up-potting.

Other comments? Thank you.

Jim

I agree in regard to root chopping. However, you might try saturating the
roots in water in an attempt to pull them free. Dry roots are difficult and
often easily break.

.. . . Pam
Everything Orchid Management System http://www.pe.net/~profpam/page3.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ray wrote:

GrinAw, c'mon, Jim. Don't be lazy. /Grin

I'd spend a lot of time clipping the plastic pot before I'd resort to root
chopping. Not that it wouldn't possibly come to that, but it's not a
starting point.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!
.
"James Aldridge" wrote in message
...
Anyway, you could shake out as much media as you can and leave the old
pot
on when you pot up or I was thinking u could cut the old pot away?

The net pots I use have way too many holes with roots growing through
them to make it feasible to cut the pot off the root system.

I also think it would be hard to remove much medium from the root mass
without removing the orchid from the pot.

I have been leaning towards the notion that a clean cut along the
inside of the basket will lop off a lot of roots, but the root systems
are still *huge*, so I think I will be okay. After all, cutting roots
often stimulates new root growth. I will also try not to let things
get too out of hand before up-potting.

Other comments? Thank you.

Jim

On Fri, 13 Aug 2004 12:46:48 GMT, "GARLAND HANSON"
wrote:

My gosh....just cut away as much as the net as you can and pot it up again
with the old net intact. It won't breakdown and no one will know it is
there but you!
Pot away!
Garland


I bought an Ascocenda from a vendor who shall never get another
$. They had just potted up the 4" net pot into a nursery pot and
the net pot was strangling the Ascda. I too was at fault for
taking the fresh mix on the top to be "recently repotted." Now
I buy my Ascda unpotted or at least with not enough mix to cover
a problem. Better dry roots than strangled.
SuE
http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php

On Fri, 13 Aug 2004 12:46:48 GMT, "GARLAND HANSON"
wrote:

My gosh....just cut away as much as the net as you can and pot it up again
with the old net intact. It won't breakdown and no one will know it is
there but you!
Pot away!
Garland


I bought an Ascocenda from a vendor who shall never get another
$. They had just potted up the 4" net pot into a nursery pot and
the net pot was strangling the Ascda. I too was at fault for
taking the fresh mix on the top to be "recently repotted." Now
I buy my Ascda unpotted or at least with not enough mix to cover
a problem. Better dry roots than strangled.
SuE
http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php

Our view is that it depends on what's inside that net pot, besides your
plant. If the medium is non-decomposing [lava rock, aliflor, charcoal,
etc.], then just pot the whole thing up. If the medium is something that
rots [bark, sphagnum, etc.], then it depends on the size. Fine stuff will
wash out through the holes in the net pot, with routine leeching, as it
breaks down. Bigger stuff should be removed. Pam's mention of wetting
everything down first, in that case, is a wise one -- wet roots are much
more cooperative than dry, brittle ones.

This practice has been part of the basis for a system which has worked out
very well for us over the last seven years. We use mostly non-degrading
potting materials, and therefore rarely have to disturb a lot of roots when
we repot. We get far less "transplant shock" that way. And we now have
plants happily outgrowing 10" pots that still have their 2" net seedling
pots down in there, somewhere.
--
Kenni Judd
Juno Beach Orchids
http://www.jborchids.com




"James Aldridge" wrote in message
...
I have been using a lot of net pots with great success, especially for
Phalaenopsis and Onicidium. When it comes time to repot, I end up
having to tear a lot of roots since they often grow through the fine
mesh and cannot be removed intact. Do you think this is a problem and,
if so, any suggested solutions? I suppose I could repot more often,
before a lot of roots have grown through the mesh. Or I could go back
to clay pots. Suggestions? Thanks.

Jim

Our view is that it depends on what's inside that net pot, besides your
plant. If the medium is non-decomposing [lava rock, aliflor, charcoal,
etc.], then just pot the whole thing up. If the medium is something that
rots [bark, sphagnum, etc.], then it depends on the size. Fine stuff will
wash out through the holes in the net pot, with routine leeching, as it
breaks down. Bigger stuff should be removed. Pam's mention of wetting
everything down first, in that case, is a wise one -- wet roots are much
more cooperative than dry, brittle ones.

This practice has been part of the basis for a system which has worked out
very well for us over the last seven years. We use mostly non-degrading
potting materials, and therefore rarely have to disturb a lot of roots when
we repot. We get far less "transplant shock" that way. And we now have
plants happily outgrowing 10" pots that still have their 2" net seedling
pots down in there, somewhere.
--
Kenni Judd
Juno Beach Orchids
http://www.jborchids.com




"James Aldridge" wrote in message
...
I have been using a lot of net pots with great success, especially for
Phalaenopsis and Onicidium. When it comes time to repot, I end up
having to tear a lot of roots since they often grow through the fine
mesh and cannot be removed intact. Do you think this is a problem and,
if so, any suggested solutions? I suppose I could repot more often,
before a lot of roots have grown through the mesh. Or I could go back
to clay pots. Suggestions? Thanks.

Jim