How to remove sphagnum moss from Orchid roots - repotting pot bound Cattleya

Today I am taking you along as I remove the sphagnum moss from between the roots of my pot bound Cattleya Orchid. Here we go!
▼▼▼More info below!▼▼▼
When removing old medium from orchid roots, the process can damage them. Sphagnum moss can actually be safely removed with patience, know how and a thin tweezers!
If we are careful we can save all of the roots and mostly without a scratch! Organic media degrades and needs changing regularly. Out of all organic potting media, I find sphagnum moss the least damaging for most orchids.
When using inorganic media, especially clay, one must simply change the pot and not disturb the roots • How to repot Orchids i...
More about semi hydroponics firstrays.com/semi-hydroponic-...
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[@myIsabella53]

I love this video! I have the exact same tweezers (I used to aquascape my aquariums in the past) and have spent up to an hour removing sphagnum moss from fine rooted orchids. Not so easy. This is a perfect example. Thank you Danny.

[@TY-ob7fz]

Hi Danny. Thanks You !!! Deja vous. After getting your answer repotted immediately, yesterday and yes used the tweezer from your previous vid. Ouch pulling the orchid out from pot. Use a screwdriver with cloth wrapped around tip and push from center bottom drainage hole. As shown the middle usually don’t have many roots and won’t risk breaking something. I also had soaked and drain the day before and made the roots and media very pliable. Give Mom a hug for mother’s day even over the phone.

[@walterjfrancis29]

I never knew this hybrid was so popular. I actually got one yesterday myself. A mounted gal on teak wood. I'm happy to have her with me. Good job with getting a WishList Item

[@jaynemar1]

A very tiny crochet hook is fabulous for easing the moss out of small areas.

[@MissOrchidGirl]

That's a great idea!

[@marygorchidsmore2058]

Nice repotting! Thanks for sharing.

[@carpediem.9]

Love using clay balls with all my orchids (except vandas of course) too it's so much less hassle and they love it too.

[@tillandsiashaworthias]

Where is missgardengirl? i'm so excited for the updates.

[@GL1FE]

Thank you Danny for your video! it was reassuring to se this as a tutorial , i got a dendrobium that took me an hour to take out the sphagnum moss and thank god for your tweezers suggestion on other repotting videos because they are a blessing when you have small roots that are pot bound with sphagnum ! i had so few orchids in my life before that so i didn't know if it was normal at all and this was when soaked them as well. i just love phalanx-sis roots for that reason , they are arg and fleshy!! xoxo L. have fun with the new cat =^;^=

[@rachaelbrown7771]

Is it ok to loosen the root system if one is potbound. I just repotted several in bark but used a bit of moss also. I trimmed damaged roots, loosened the root systems that were bound, I hope I didn't shock them.

[@prettybrowneyez3338]

Hi Danny thanks for your videos!! I recently rescued 4 phal orchids, sadly one's roots was already black so she didnt make it 😓. And Ive noticed that the moss on one is showing white on the top, kind of like baby powder sprinkled on top. Is that normal? Should I be concerned please help?!!

[@hiusan6216]

Cool thanks Danny, for the information but next time can you make how to repot terrestrial orchid tutorial

[@meadowfrance]

I just dunk the whole root ball in a bucket/bowl/sink of water and massage gently, majority of the moss will float away from the roots, then I pick out any stuck pieces. I think it is much faster and just as gentle.

[@MissOrchidGirl]

It works for phals as I was saying, for pot bounds I find it really doesn't do a good job.

[@paulsaunders6492]

Hi Dani. I've just taken delivery of a large Dendrobium; it's got several canes, one of which is over 30cm tall and it's in bud which should open fairly soon. The trouble is that it is growing in a lump of wood - some of its roots are growing down inside the wood, but there's also quite a few new roots growing across the surface, and the whole (roots and bark ) are wedged into a plastic cage pot. I want to repot the Dendrobium into semi hydro. I've soaked the whole root system and I think that I can break away the wood bits without too much, if any, damage; however, I'm keen to see the buds open. Would you recommend waiting , delaying the repotting, until it flowers, or should I do the repotting now?

[@ajlast3691]

Nice!

[@wandafel6403]

Happy Mother's Day to your mom!

[@DaniEl-gn5ti]

What is the ID of that orchid in the outro ?

[@brandantran3150]

Ah! I have a Burana Beauty, such an easier grower with a quick recovery. I found it at a grocery store if you can believe it, with a id tag and all.

[@theclerksays]

I would soak the entire pot in water first before removing the sphagnum. Its so much faster and easier and you can even tease the roots out with your hands. no need for tweezers, its too time consuming

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Not sure you watched my video :))))

[@patsfreund9164]

Good video. There seemed to be a cavernous circle of roots around the bottom. You shook the pot when repotting. I assume you feel confident that the center was filled with medium. Were you? Also.....when working with garden plants we want to free up the roots that are growing in a circle to prevent continuation of that circular growing pattern when in the ground. You don't have to be concerned about that with orchids? As always, thanks for such an informative video. Keep them coming.

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Hi, not sure what you meant with the middle of the pot, but I do mention that the center usually has less roots than the sides, so yes I knew it would be medium :) also orchids don't need root memory breaking, it is also impossible to do it as roots are not as flexible as to reshape them. Most are also epiphytes, so their roots will creep in all directions no matter what.

[@patsfreund9164]

I meant that it looked like the roots had a hollow area in the middle that didn't have any medium in it. I probably would have put some of the leca in that area and then placed the plant in the pot and filled around it. Hope that makes sense and it clarifies my comment. I assume that by shaking the pot when adding the medium that you were confident that the area became filled with medium. Thanks for using the term "root memory breaking". I have now learned a new term. I didn't know what it was called, just knew that we do it in gardening. Always appreciate your videos so please keep them coming.

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Ooh ok I understand now :)) yes by shaking the pot the center gets filled with leca. Filling the middle might work when working with moss, but with leca it's a pain, those clay balls don't stay where you put them :)))

[@EllePlowPlow]

You don’t cut off old cattleya roots anymore?

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Depends on the orchid :)

[@EllePlowPlow]

MissOrchidGirl thanks for responding. :) Any tips for how to tell when I should cut off old cattleya roots and when I shouldn’t?

[@MissOrchidGirl]

It has to do with the health of the older roots, if they look to be plump and very little stained after years, they are more likely to survive a repot. I also said I would up pot within the year due to the small pot, so I could cut dead roots soon if they do die off. So no point in cutting them now :)

[@lisawilson4628]

Hello, I was wondering when we will see more videos from your garden channel?? Looking forward to seeing your progress. Thank you!!

[@klcpca]

I have good success removing moss from my root bound plants by holding the roots under running water and washing out the little pieces.....

[@MissOrchidGirl]

I don't :))

[@alisonmaczka7359]

I want another Burana Beauty. I have one and I love the flowers, but this one refuses to grow anywhere other than in one direction even though she has viable eyes all over. It's so annoying, especially when I see all of these other ones that have nice bushy growth.

[@hiusan6216]

First comment!

[@YnseSchaap]

Repot starts at 5:50 oh no you ruined the ending ;-)

[@Celestyal22]

Might I offer a small critique(sp?) The first and endcard music dont match the visual stimulus so you wind up with a bit of a clash. The itself is nice but it throws the pacing of the video way off. (I actually couldn't watch your last in bloom video because of this) Maybe try and find a music that matchs the speed that you speak and the movement of your hands. :) (Video game music is perfect for this because it designed not to be noticed.)

[@wandafel6403]

Celestyal22 I think she has the background music to distract from the construction noise, which probably bothers her more than the viewers. I find it a "part of life" noise and progression. I like it.

[@o_o8203]

I don't care lol I'm here for the information. I just listen to most of the videos, except for unboxings, of course.

[@wandafel6403]

Dzahui she does a phenomenal job, right?! I appreciate her so much. She has no idea or begin to understand what she has done 4 me.