I get the majority of my plants from trades, member sale tables and raffles, mostly out of bloom. I have seen plenty of plants that looked good on top and were disasters under the surface. One tactic I use is resting a finger on the plant and applying a little sideways pressure. If there is any movement at all the plant is out of the running. Plants from these sources get repotted first thing.

Tipping out a plant you don't own is indeed rude. However once you have bought it, there is no reason not to while you are right there if an adjustment needs made.

Since I completed my inventory, I have started taking a plant list along when there is any opportunity to acquire plants.

Amusing presentation, Howard.

I too do check roots if they are coming from a highly questionable source, but do try to avoid it in general.

Possible 'happy' solutions for peepers would be growing mounted [for those who can handle such requirements] or growing in clear pots. That way you can do your 'peeping' and leave the roots alone too.....

: )

Thank you for the feedback but... Ok, say you decide to buy a questionable plant, either because its the only one of its kind on display or because you know that you have the skills to bring it around, my assertion is that you can do this without mussing a single root. There also must be a difference between a trade plant or rescue and one obtained at full list either from a mail order source or locally. In any case, good light, proper temps, etc. are going to be necessary if you do a repot, otherwise all those cut root ends are just entry sites for opportunistic infection. Well proper temps, good light, etc. will bring about the same recovery, perhaps quicker because there has not been the additional setback from a repot. Many here don't even know how to do a repot. When the first orchid I ever bought needed its first repot I took it to a local pro and watched them do it. Even though it hadn't grown in the best light ((I wasn't illuminated yet) the pro removed far fewer roots than I would have assumed. I suppose my argument is that the roots aren't going anywhere, if you don't get them this time they will be waiting next year. I say this will all possible respect for your obvious experience and talent, Richard (the Tenor of the Forum endorphins have not yet been metabolized) and Paul, I know less (nothing...) about your growing but I respect your opinions also.

H

I am a confessed "peeper" but what an interesting spin you put on the whole thing Howard. I grow many types of houseplants including a.v.'s and have never once depotted one of those unless to repot.I do grow all my orchids in clear pots, I guess it's my fear of failure with them that makes me crazy. A great point you have raised,certainly makes me think!!

i started to repot after buying when i read on a thread about bugs/snails in the plants. sure enough, i found some with a couple i bought recently. i find it very strange that these people can keep the orchids looking good while when i have bugs/snails the plant goes into decline. one would think that there would be bugs/snails in their other plants, too; not only in the ones I bought.
sue

Thank you "Illuminated One"! That's your new name if you didn't know it (The IO courtesy of bradarmi) Bugs can be cured without re-potting, in fact most anything can be cured without re-potting de-potting, peeking etc. We practice honing other culture skills. This is no different. If the roots are less than perfect, that can been seen in leaves, PB's, blooms, many parts of the plant. It is not a remedy but a drastic measure. I don't understand why fresh media is always the 1st line of defense? Orchids grow in decomposed material.

Clara
Anxiously awaiting Part II

I never check whats in the pot - never on purpose. If it gets knocked over and out I see what's there and it goes back in. When I repot (not enough), I take a look, might trim a little, but that's it. I tend to treat orchids the way I do dirt plants. I might loosen a tight root-ball around the outside to get the roots to move out of the circle. I rarely have ever done major surgery on a plant. I do root prune dirt plants which must stay in smaller pots, but I prune the green growth as well. I've divided orchids when they get too big, but find that roots die and the plant grows new ones. You don't need to keep removing old roots. Even rotted roots will disappear and new roots will form.

I've had my share of nasty plants, usually can bring them around. If not, they die. I don't have the time or inclination to spend so much time worrying about what is down in the pot. BTW, clear pots afford very little in terms of judging roots. You can tell more about a plant by looking at the 'whole plant.' You just know when something is off.

Jane
(lazy gardener)

sue - I wonder the same thing all the time! How is it that my plant is the infested one? Wouldn't their greenhouse be rampant with infestation if most of their plants had problems? But then again with lovely air movement, humidity, light and possibly regular wide scale systemic treatments, I'm sure they do much better!

I repot when it's in the wrong media, ie dendrobium in african violet soil. I usually only repot to fix mistakes in media choice, either mistakes made by myself, or by the original grower. Sometimes what worked in the growers greenhouse just doesn't work on my shelf, so I have to do it! Sometimes I also have to repot if I miscalculate where the new growths are coming from in a previous repot, and they start climbing out of the pot. I can't afford media-less roots on growths in my dry environment, so I have to re-orient the plant even when it isn't pot bound yet.

Although I do admit - if a plant just sits there doing nothing at all for a long time (ie more than a year), then I have been known to get frustrated and do the entire drastic change of environment thing, ie rip the whole thing out, repot in fresh stuff, change of pot (sometimes even smaller), move to new location etc...I've only done it twice but it seemed to kick the plant into growing again..either it's because of the change in environment, or the actual media itself...who knows!