A Summer Repotting Workshop at Debbie Halliday's

In August, SD Co. Orchid Society member Debbie Halliday invited members from our local orchid societies to a  repotting workshop at her home.  Around twenty of us attended.  We enjoyed a nice potluck lunch, then Debbie demonstrated how to repot a Cattleya that had outgrown the pot it was in.  She provided bark,  pots and sterilized tools for us to use to repot our own plants.  I had a Phalaenopsis that had grown tall with a lot of exposed roots.   I asked Debbie how I should go about repotting it.  After taking the plant out of its pot, she cut off the bottom of the plant.  The bottom part got thrown away and the top part was put into a new pot.  I also brought a Cattleya to repot.  They can sometimes be a bit tricky with  root systems that look like an interconnected freeway.  Debbie guided me through the process, which involved some trimming.  That was August, and the Cattleya bloomed beautifully in September. I came away with newfound confidence.  I recently repotted a very large Cattleya that I had avoided dealing with; it needed major trimming, but I wasn't sure where to cut it.  I think I did a good job.  It's a beautiful orchid, and blooms twice a year.  The next time it blooms, I will post a picture in this blog.

Below are photos from the workshop and some of Debbie's own orchids. 

                                                                                                                                                                  Submitted by Debra Funakoshi