Should I repot this orchid? (Pictures included)

[WaterWitchin]

I agree in part, and disagree in part with JScott. Would I repot? Yes. But it is optional at this point. For me, it's at a good stage when you only have a couple of roots poking out that can be carefully wriggled out of the holes, or cut the pot. And I'd cut off the two yellow leaves, put a dab of cinnamon on the cut, and pot it just a tiny bit lower. That's what I would do. But it's all optional at this point.

The leaning part... when I pot or repot a Phalaenopsis I pot them up leaning. It's more the way they grow in nature, plus if I'm watering through a bunch quickly it avoids getting water in the crown so I don't have to go back and fuss with it.

[JScott]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

I agree in part, and disagree in part with JScott. Would I repot? Yes. But it is optional at this point. For me, it's at a good stage when you only have a couple of roots poking out that can be carefully wriggled out of the holes, or cut the pot. And I'd cut off the two yellow leaves, put a dab of cinnamon on the cut, and pot it just a tiny bit lower. That's what I would do. But it's all optional at this point.

The leaning part... when I pot or repot a Phalaenopsis I pot them up leaning. It's more the way they grow in nature, plus if I'm watering through a bunch quickly it avoids getting water in the crown so I don't have to go back and fuss with it.

You make a valid point, and I have the utmost respect for you, and we are good enough friends that we can disagree without it being a fight. I like to pot my phals back upright when I repot them to keep them from getting so heavy on one side (the side toward which the plant is leaning), that they tend to get top heavy and can easily fall over and make a high mess. I also feel like the flower spikes develop better when the plant is growing upright. Well, not develop better, but develop in a a way that displays the flowers better. That's why I repot the way I do, and I certainly understand the reason that you pot the way you do. It's up to each individual grower to try it both ways and decide which they prever.

The only Phal that I have that I don't set back upright when I repot is Schilleriana. I like the way it looks with the long narrow leaves cascading down over the side of the pot, and the flower spikes will arch over and hang down and won't need staking. But other than that, I repot them upright. I've actually had a few plants fall out of their pots because they were trying so hard to grow perpendicular to the ground that they actually literally climbed out of the pot and fell on the floor. Try it which ever way you want, and see how you like it. If you feel like there are problems, try it the other way next time an see if you like that better.

[Ray]

I'm with the "upright" league.

Repot now or later is more of a decision related to the ease of doing so. WW is right that the more roots that "escape" through holes, the more difficult it may be.

I'd wait for those leaves to drop and forget the cinnamon, but that fact that you are losing them - coupled with the appearance of the medium - tells me you need to water it more.

[WaterWitchin]

Yes, that leaf part is definitely the “what I would do” thing. I’m a pruner for esthetics at heart. I threw in the cinnamon thing to be PC. I don’t actually do that myself unless something appears infected.

And JScott....

[estación seca]

Phals are extremely tolerant of repotting. I just wouldn't do it during a cold and dark time of year.