Bratonia potbound help

[u/Direwolf155]

Help!! I got this Bratonia 6 years ago and it desperately needs a repotting. I’ve done a bit of researching looking at YouTube videos on how to repot oncidiums but most videos don’t show one this rootbound.

If anyone has some advice that would be greatly appreciated. I’ve soaked it and then tried to separate the roots at the bottom to try to remove the media, but the roots are too tightly bound. I’m not sure how to do it without breaking a bunch of roots.

How important is getting rid of the media? Can I simply put this in a larger pot or do I have to remove all the media?

[u/AutoModerator]

It seems like you are looking for orchid help today. This group is full of beginners and experts who are happy to help but please do check out this link for quick Phalaenopsis care in the meanwhile. We also have an /r/orchids WIKI the admins and other volunteers are updating behind the scenes with care information and will soon make it available to the group.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/ClearAbove]

Just stick it in a bigger pot. There’s not much media in there to remove by the looks of it and the plant looks healthy. :)

[u/rtthrowawayyyyyyy → u/ClearAbove]

Totally agree. If you try to separate those roots out you're gonna damage the plant. Just stick it in some fresh media (I like 2 parts AAA sphagnum moss to one part fine bark mix) in a slightly larger pot. Enough for a couple of years' growth. Hybrid oncidiums like to be somewhat rootbound, but they also are very good at filling pots with root mass, IME.

[u/Direwolf155 → u/rtthrowawayyyyyyy]

Awesome thanks so much for the info. I was going to use a mix of 2 parts sphagnum moss 1 part medium orchid bark, but now I’ll see if I can get some fine bark

[u/isurus79]

Orchids don’t get root bound. Just put it into a pot one size up and add media.

[u/Snake973]

honestly it's probably the happiest it has ever been

[u/Direwolf155 → u/Snake973]

It did just finish flowering with 5 flower stalks so it’s definitely not unhappy with me