When the plant has been stripped bare to the roots it can be divided. A leading piece consisting of a double new growth and four-leaved pseudobulbs is removed by severing the rhizome with secateurs. One further leading division of a similar size can be removed from the other sick of the plant, leaving a hack division with leafed pseudobulbs which can also be potted. Any good leafless pseudo- bulbs should be divided and potted singly. Alternatively the rhizome can be severed in the pot six months before repotting when the back division will have started a new growth.

On an annual basis a Paphiopedilum can, for a number of years, be repotted back into the same size pot, or, if the compost is still in good condition, be `dropped on’ without disturbance to the root ball, into a slightly larger pot.

One final pressing down will bring the plant to the same level. Finally, replace the label in the back of the plant. The single backbulb can be potted in a similar way using as small a pot as possible.

By comparison with other orchids, the root systems of paphiopedilums are not so extensive, although fewer roots will cling very tightly to the inside of the pot. Their unusually hairy roots are brown-coloured, unlike the usual white of other orchids. This can make it more difficult to determine which arc alive and which are dead. Again, it will be the roots supporting the older growths which will have died, whereas the roots on the younger growths will be alive and healthy.

The root trimming on paphiopedilums is all-important, and should be tackled with great care. The dead roots should be felt for, and only removed if they feel flat and empty, with the outer covering peeling away. It will be found that the remaining live roots are less brittle and, therefore, with careful repotting, these can often be left whole, or trimmed only where broken. They should not be trimmed to the same extent as, say, cymbidiums.

Cattleya roots will adhere strongly to the sides of the pot and can make the removal of the plant quite difficult. If tapping the pot on the edge of the potting bench does not loosen the plant, in order to avoid further unnecessary effort the easiest method is to cut away the plastic pot using a pair of secateurs. Although this will destroy the pot, it will save the plant from any possible harm. A flexible pot is easily peeled, and a rigid pot will break into removable pieces, leaving a solid ball of roots which can then be teased apart.