With a strong, robust, large plant, you don't need to follow the

9 years ago

Almost 2 years ago I took Pleurothallis excelsa out of it's normal sized pot with sphagnum moss and over potted it in a 2 gallon Cymbidium pot with bark/perlite because of the robust growing habit of the plant. I was not disappointed, the move worked well.

I did not want the usual moss because of the sheer mass of it, too big a soggy, dripping wet mess. Pleuros like to stay wet but I water it almost daily with a thorough soaking . In the ensuing 2 years the plant has almost grown into this very large pot and is robustly making new leaves. Look at this thread: 'The beauty of an abundance of new leaves' or something like that, it goes hand in hand with this.

2 things wrong here. The pot (2 years) ago was too large and also too deep. Not the usual for a Pleuro. Secondly, Pleuros are usually planted in Sphagnum moss, not bark.

Because of the size, strength and robustness of the plant, these things were ignored and as you'll see, it's working out OK.

A picture of this year's new leaves and general growth of the plant.

Nick

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Comments (6)

orchidnick
Original Author
9 years ago
Rules is the last word omitted from the title.

Here is a picture of the surface of the pot. Note the roots, the new growth and the fact that the plant is almost at the edge of the pot, a far cry from where it was 2 years ago.

Nick
orchidnick
Original Author
9 years ago
Next, Pleuro cocornarensis, again note the robust, strong leaf formation. With this type of growth, I thought this plant could also be treated like the excelsa and moved it.

Nick
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orchidnick
Original Author
9 years ago
The surface of the pot. I put it into a 14" plastic shallow pot from HD, 50 plus 1/2" holes were drilled into the sides and bottom for drainage. There is at least 5 years worth of 'growing space' available for this plant, I have no intention of doing anything to it for quite some time.

Same 2 rules were broken. One: pot is too large. Two: wrong growing medium for Pleuro. This was done on purpose, time will tell if it's successful as it was with the excelsa.

Nick
orchidnick
Original Author
9 years ago
Last example. Pleuro adelae, same deal, robust growth followed by overpotting in bark/coconut/lava rock.

Nick
orchidnick
Original Author
9 years ago
The surface of the pot.

I'm looking forward to watching these plants grow into their space and produce impressive specimens. I would not do this to young plants but only to robust, strong specimens who, by sheer force, will overcome whatever you throw at them. The advantage is that without further work I can enjoy the growth of these things for years to come. In Sphagnum moss they would have to be repotted.

Nick
orchidnick
Original Author
9 years ago
Bump.

Nick