Here are the pics

The mix is just peat moss wrapped tightly around the roots through the center. Not sure what to do this time
Thanks again
Mike

Mike - the short answer is yes! Now how you go about doing it is a different story. I would soak it first, then try to tease out as many roots as possible for each pseudobulb. I'm afraid you'll have to cut a number of them. Then I'd mount it on a board or something similiar and put it into a prop box with high humidity and warmth until the roots recover and start to grow again. If you decide to place it back in a pot, I'd tease out again, as many as possible, then repot and again place in a prop box to minimize the shock. It may look ugly at first, but orchids are tough, and it will recover.

Best of luck to you.

I wouldn't divide it. But I would repot it with good media. It may seem a bit tedious but strand by strand, you can pick out the moss.

BIll, I really app-reciate it. I have made it a habit to just buy them and place them into my home withot ever doing a re pot. I have bought dozens of them and left them as is and a year later just to loose most of them to rot.

So this time, I plan on an immediate exchange of the mix and a better program. Maybe I can keep them as healthy as when I got them by a year from now.

I will admit most of my root bound orchids I have done nothing with have almost died when looking at the roots.

I am tired of spending all the money on them just to see them decline.

I figured I would try something different by taking care of the roots as soon as possible.

Mike

Mike, here's a brassola nodosa that's been in the same pot for maybe 22 years! It gets sprayed every day or two like the others and fed maybe once or twice a month. The pot is plastic and there is no way to separate it out. When it blooms, the entire house smells of its perfume as maybe 20 - 30 blooms will appear. That is sun shining on the one leaf in front. It sits in a southwestern window. Below it are some oncidiums blooming. They smell like chocolate and when the sun hits them, they really become fragrant. They too are 20+ years old.

If only we lived in a warmer climate with humidity and other factors most orchids prefer... oh, well.

I have talked with a few orchid growers that simply place the orchid as is within a larger basket and allow the roots to move about and grow as they want to, though this might not be best depending on plant type, etc.

Surely there is a ton of information available via internet sites. I've been checking out semi-hydro and the use of akadama, which seems pretty nifty.

I could never mount mine on rafts or boards due to the dry air I must contend with. But I have used a very gritty mix to grow my mini-dendrobium with decent success.

I used a bit of cinnamon to help avoid rot/fungus, which seemed to help.

I'm more of a bulb person than an orchid grower, though I surely would love to have a few favorites I've been looking at over the years!

Best of luck... I hope you find your answers! Your plants are always so beautiful! :-)

Bill. That’s crazy !! The brassola I have has no mix at all and thrives. That is one I like. Easy if not kept wet. Your oncidium is beautiful ! I can’t believe it’s that old. How big is it ? Have you been dividing it? What kind of media do you use for it and do you let that dry out completely ? Great job! Exciting to see someone like you keep your alive so long.
Do you ever put them outside ? Or inside at all times? I’m quite impressed ). And boy do they smell great. I think I have just about every fragrant orchid listed on top ten you can think of. I appreciate your input and pics. Please take one of that oncidium for me. Is it in clay or plastic ?

Jodi. Hello. I love that fact that you are back. Missed you so much. I remember the good ole days. I think I e known you here for over 15 years !! You have always been crucial here and I appreciate that.
Thank you for the wishes. I know you love bulbs. How are they doing?
Can you post a pic of your beautiful one ?
I’ll keep all posted on the re pot )
Waiting on the tree fern fiber

Bill. Also thank you for the advice. Will do. Going to open the root ball unloosen the roots and repot.

Bill. Seems I can edit on my cell phone.
So I am back to ask you what area you live in.
Like Jodi. Anything that exposes the roots other than my brassavola desiccates because the air in my home is way too dry to keep up.

Well, wrap the roots in a moist paper towel or perhaps encase the roots in a plastic bag temporarily. Or just moisten it a couple times per day?

Typically my house thermostat registers around 50% year round (up to 75% sometimes in spring). I know that many houses get below 20% though.

Mike, the humidity in my home is usually 30%or less. I spray my plants literally every day to raise at least a little humidity. I works for maybe an hour or so then right back to desert conditions.

In the summer, everything goes outside. I don't have a lot of shade in my yard so everything bleaches white. It usually takes the winter to recover, but while doing so, the flowers become perfuse! I've never split the Oncydium's, but come spring if you would like one, I'll break off a bulb and you're welcome to it.

As far a media, I don't think there is any in the pot! It's long ago decayed out I'm sure. Once a month the plants get sprayed with a weak solution of Dyna-Gro fertilizer during the winter, and in the summer, twice a month.

BTW - I went to Lowes the other day and they had the orchids in small pots wrapped in the net bag. That's where that brassa came from - home depot on Long Island when I lived there. Come to think of it, it's probably 30+ years old since I've been in PA for 22 years. As I said, they're tough plants. This year I was smart and put a systemic in the roots. Typically, every year I'm battling mealy bugs on the brassa, but so far this year I haven't seen any. Whoopee!

Stay well Mike, TTLY....

Instead of a plastic bag, what about a plastic mesh type of bag that might help keep a bit more moisture but not too much? Rather like some that could be found in a grocery produce section? As for medium, I like to experiment using items like pine bark fines, akadama, peat in strands, and other items that might contribute to a more even moisture content. Although, I must admit that orchids are not presently in my collection. I hope to acquire a couple next spring... I'd like to replace my mini-dendrobium, and pick up a cattleya hybrid variety known as "Yellow Bird". There are a few more I'd love to try, but my indoor humidity hovers on the very low end, so my choices have to be careful ones.

Mike, my bulbs are doing okay. I've scaled down my collection as a matter of just getting older and trying to lessen my work load. Though, I have been using my little Harbor Freight greenhouse more, taking plants out in spring for re-potting or just more sun.

Last Christmas, Larry got me a new "Minerva" Hippeastrum bulb, which bloomed wonderfully! Unfortunately, my attempts to pollinate only gave me seed that wouldn't germinate. Oh, well.

With rising prices on everything, I've begun to save my spare change in a jar for any plant materials I may want.

On a better note, my Chalice Vine is blooming, and there are several buds left to go! I'm hoping for seeds, so I am pollinating. We'll se what happens.

Once warmer weather rolls around again, I may have a plant or two for you... my Paw Paw grove is exploding with young seedlings. I've never tried growing one in a pot, but I bet it could be done. And I still have lots of Heuchera and some gorgeous Alliums, not to mention seeds from my Autumn Clematis. I also want to try to root some rose cuttings from my hardiest plants. We'll see what next spring brings. In the meantime, I'm sure we'll talk. Take care! :-)

Bill, thanks for that wide sort of information. Coming from a man that does not have the best of conditions in the winter you make due and your plants still thrive. What a blessing to know such people as you here and to take the time to share means a lot.

I am fortunate to run humidity higher than that in winter because I run a humidifier in my very sunny bright room upstairs and the coolest 4 seasons porch does not have any radiators of a source of heat other coming from an open door from my kitchen which leaves that room much more humid than any part of my home.

THANK YOU for the offer on a piece of your orchids)

I have discovered what my issues start from and I am going to start another thread so that many more can take from what I have been through and how to prevent failures.

These orchids are so special and cost much, that it is such a pity to take a bad start with them and to be more aware of their needs the minute one purchases them.

I hope you can add much to the next thread that will start )

I will be going to Home Depot to check that out and wow, that many years and you have not killed them.

Amazing my friend.

Jodi, thank you))))

I will call probably tonight on my way home. I have much to share. I get out at 7 pm if that is ok.

Thanks for all your input too. So many helpful people here and to add you into the mix, I am blessed!!!

I will share some plants with you too.

Thank you for your generosity and kind words. Gl;ad you still have bulbs abd I lost my chalice vine((

I wonder how the goat is doing by the way)

Thank God I have more humidity in my growinwg rooms than most do, which can be to my detriment if I use mixes that holf water too long. I have to figure out what works and then stick with it))

Hugs

I should have extra Chalice Vine cuttings by spring, with any luck, so you are welcome to some if you'd like? I had to scale back on the biggest one which grew too lanky for my window garden!

The goats are doing fantastic! We introduced Mr. Pinner into the herd as the breeder this time around, and he's proven to be a wonderful dad, and has thrown gorgeous, healthy, stocky kids! His blood brought renewed vigor and size, and his children are all temperamentally sound and just what I was looking for! It's not unlike breeding dogs... basic genetics apply regardless the animal. His daughters are beautiful, and his sons look just like him. Next, I have to barter or trade for a complete outcross in a male, so we'll begin looking next spring.

When adapting some medium for better water retention, I found a use for those silly coconut coir fiber disks sold along with Amaryllis bulbs. I'm glad I kept them off to the side! I took one and re-hydrated it, then wrung out the extra water. I used a bit of it in my mix for a plant or two in smaller pots that needed a little more moisture than most of my other plants. So far, it seems to be working pretty good.

I can't afford to run a humidifier. I already run extra space heaters in this drafty old farm house, and with electricity prices, well... but I do keep pans of water here and there that evaporate and help somewhat, I suppose.

when you get a chance, you must check out our farm antics! We have so much fun with the chickens, turkeys, goats and other things going on! https://www.youtube.com/@RODEHAWGKENNEL 

There are tons of short and long videos, photos, and some are mine made in my greenhouse as I mix Gritty Mix and re-pot plants and whatnot. Check out our schedule and subscribe, and you'll get notifications of when we go live so you can join the conversation and see us in action! I would love it if you were a member, and it's free. :-)

Take care!

Jodik, you what? I will. I will go on my TV tonight and look that up, this way my Mom and I can enjoy what goes on at the funny farm.lol

I hear you about extra retention and the cost of running space heaters!! I closed my greenhouse down because I couldn't afford to keep two and sometimes three running at once to keep temps warm enough for all my tropical s and orchids.

Now I just run L.E.D lights and keep mine sitting on beautiful humidity trays. The room upstairs I run a humidifier because it helps me sleep better at night and the plants benefit at the same time. Ha

I am looking forward to chatting soon and if you want I will call for a sec tonight after work. I get out at 7.

That is great news about the goat. He is a beauty. I can't believe how fast time has flew since he was born. Crazy.

By the way, my electric rates here in Ma. went up 68 percent, so good thing I no longer run heaters unless the temps drops at 32 at night. I have one on a timer so I can keep my more temperate higher zone plants in there without the bite of our winters)

Time does fly! Mr. Pinner is almost 4 years old, and the last set of kids to be born, last February, are his. He really did well, genetically speaking. We'll see how he does with the second part of the female herd. I have the girls split into two groups in two areas so they can rest in between breedings.

The second bloom on the Chalice Vine opened, and I've pollinated it. There are still a couple of smaller buds that might bloom. I hope so, anyway.

Our power costs haven't really risen that much, but they could. It's anybody's guess. I'm just glad we don't have to buy meats and some other items, like eggs and chicken.

We used to run a humidifier, but it could barely keep up. This house is right on a corner and it's so windy and dry during parts of the year. I keep a few pots of water around to help, even though it's not much. It's something.

I really don't know how all these companies can get away with raising prices so much... how do they expect people to keep up? It's crazy out there!

Best of luck with your orchids! I'm sure you'll do fine! :-)

Mike, your plant looks very healthy.

This is not the best time of year to work on orchid roots. Short hours of sunlight, dry conditions.

If you can hold off until early Spring, that would be ideal. The roots look great, fabulous plant.

Usually you want to repot when you see active root growth. No matter how careful you are when repotting, you will suffer some root damage.

Jane

It's true... no matter how careful one is, some root damage is bound to occur, but if the plant is healthy otherwise, it shouldn't be a problem. I would probably soak the plant to help loosen roots and then tease them apart. You'll probably end up cutting a bit if you're trying to separate and make more.

If a plant is healthy, it can take some abuse. Look at what we do to our potted trees to keep them in the same sized pots, for example.

I'm not an orchid specialist by any means, but I think there must be more than one way to achieve your goal. I would do some reading on the subject of dividing or separating orchid bulbs that have grown too tightly, and see what the consensus among long time growers is.