I bought two white Cattleyas on Friday.

They are potted in what looks like coconut slabs. The roots are running vertically all through this coconut slab thing. It also seems to retain quite a bit of moisture.

It was also rammed down into the pot.

I started to pull off the coconut in strips, but some of the roots would come away with the strips. I think that if I continue to do so, all the roots might come away with the coconut.

I am afraid that if I leave it as is, then root rot might set in. I have seen Dends jammed into small pots with this coconut media.

Do I repot trying to take it apart slowly or leave them. Some of the roots seem dead, but others are white and healthy.

Any suggestions wd be appreciated. Spring is almost here and I wd like to get repotting over and done with. The two catts are very large the leaves are firm but there is some mottling, yellowy greeny.