From my perspective, my root system is your biggest clue. When my pot becomes a dense, tangled mass of roots with little room to grow, I am pot-bound. You might see roots spilling over the edge of the pot or pushing me upwards. This congestion means it's harder for me to absorb water and nutrients efficiently. Furthermore, if my growth has produced multiple pseudobulbs (those swollen stem bases) and they are crammed together, I am expending energy competing with myself. Dividing me will give each new section the space and resources to thrive, reducing stress and encouraging vigorous new growth.
To ensure this process is successful and minimizes my shock, preparation is key. Please water me thoroughly a day or two before the division. This hydrates my roots, making them more flexible and resilient, so they are less likely to snap during handling. Gather a sterile, sharp cutting tool like a knife or pruning shears. Using a dirty tool could introduce harmful pathogens into my fresh wounds. Have a new potting medium ready, ideally a coarse, well-draining bark mix suitable for epiphytes like me, and new pots with excellent drainage. A fresh medium provides the perfect aerated environment my roots crave.
Gently remove me from my current pot. This may require carefully loosening the root mass from the sides. Once I am out, gently tease apart the old potting medium from my roots. Soaking the root ball for a short time can help soften and loosen old material. Now, visually identify the natural divisions between my pseudobulbs or growths. Look for the "fans" of leaves connected to a rhizome. Using your sterile tool, cut through the rhizome to separate me into sections. Ensure each new division has at least three to four healthy pseudobulbs or growths and a sufficient number of live, firm roots (usually silvery-green with green tips). This gives each new plant enough stored energy to recover and establish itself.
Place each new division into its own pot, holding it at the level it was previously growing. Gently fill in around my roots with the new potting medium, tapping the pot to settle it without compacting it too much. My roots need air as much as they need moisture. Do not water me immediately after repotting. This allows any cut or damaged roots to callous over, preventing rot. Place my new pots in a warm, shaded location with high humidity for a few weeks to allow me to recover from the stress of division. After about a week to ten days, you can resume careful watering. With proper care, each division will soon produce new roots and leaves, continuing its growth cycle as a strong, independent plant.
