Help with re-potting a Phal

[SDK]

Hello and apologize for the probably overly basic question. I am very familiar with plants, gardening, planted aquariums, etc, but new to orchids.

I have a Phal that I purchased from Lowe’s a couple of weeks ago that is in full bloom and looking generally healthy. So now I am doing a ton of research with the hopes of keeping it healthy long term and acquiring more.

It’s in what is probably the “go to” tiny orchid pot with slits that sits inside a small decorative pot. The roots are seemingly tightly wrapped in spaghnum that is still damp 6 days after watering. They do look green and are currently showing no signs of getting brown and/or mushy just yet.

My question boils down to the following conflicting statements I have been reading.


1- Don’t repot when the orchid is blooming.

2- Do repot right away if it’s in a continuously damp pot with too much spaghnum and too little air.

I’m going to attach a few pics. I do not care if re-potting causes the plant to lose the blooms if it’s a better long term decision. Just looking for some direction in what the best way to proceed. I already have some aerated 5” Orchid pots and a better substrate on hand.

Thanks
Scott

[Roberta]

First, Welcome! Nice plant!

Phals don't seem to mind being repotted while in bloom. This is a very good thing since they can stay in bloom for months... long enough for roots in bad medium to rot. If this were my plant, I'd slide it out of the pot... you might have to cut the pot but that's no loss, however it is soft enough that you may not have to. Remove as much of the old sphagnum as you can remove easily... don't try to take off what might be stuck to roots. You want to disturb the roots as little as possible. Rinse roots under the faucet... that will remove "crud" that may be stuck to roots/old medium enough to not have to worry about it. Then repot, into a pot that drains well. Plastic is fine . It's the "drains well" part that is important. Size should be just enough to fit the roots, don't be tempted to overpot. Your choice of medium is dictated by your watering practice. You can use sphagnum if you water infrequently. Use medium bark if you love to water. (I do...) Whatever you use, the goal is to have both moisture and air in the root zone. (These really want "humid air", not "wet). When you water, water well - let the water run through the pot, which pulls air into the root zone and flushes hard-water/fertilizer salts and any other "crud". Then let it drain well before putting on a saucer or in any decorative container. That airy root environment that you have created will go a very long way toward preventing rot and other ailments, so no treatments needed.

[Dimples]

Welcome!
Roberta has given you great advice. In addition, while you don’t need to remove any stuck-on sphagnum from the roots, you can and should try to remove as much of the old moss as you can. Leaving a large clump of old moss in the middle of a pot isn’t a good idea, especially if you plan to use bark. A bit of leftover moss here and there is fine, big chunks can stay too wet if you water when the bark is dry. A pair of tweezers can help get the stuff in the middle. Put on a tv show and take your time.

[SDK]

Thank you both for the quick and detailed advice!

I am going to get the Phal in a new pot while the roots are still green and healthy, and will post an update when I get it all settled in...

[Relemitty]

Scott, Welcome.
One other thing, do not get water on the Phals leaves or crown when you are watering.
I put my house plants in the sink and water the leaves/soil/pot.
Not so with Phals. The water that gets in the crown or between the leaves and stem will rot the plant.

Water the media only and so that water pours out the bottom of the pot.
And if you do get water on the crown or between the leaf and stem, carefully blot it dry with a towel.

[SDK]

Originally Posted by Relemitty

Scott, Welcome.
One other thing, do not get water on the Phals leaves or crown when you are watering.
I put my house plants in the sink and water the leaves/soil/pot.
Not so with Phals. The water that gets in the crown or between the leaves and stem will rot the plant.

Water the media only and so that water pours out the bottom of the pot.
And if you do get water on the crown or between the leaf and stem, carefully blot it dry with a towel.

Thank you for the helpful advice! Getting attached to this plant already!

[Roberta]

Beware...Orchids are addicting. We are all enablers here ...

[Dimples]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Beware...Orchids are addicting. We are all enablers here ...

No joke. Roberta posted on here about an orchid show within driving distance of me, and I came home with two new orchids (my first non-phals) and a staghorn fern!

[Dalachin]

Hi there! Roberta is the expert and she gives great advice. But I’d just add that I don’t know where you live and what conditions your plant will live in, but here in the northeast I’ve had better success with a mix of bark and spagnum moss for phals. I think that’s because 1) it’s a huge change for the roots to go from moss to bark and there is slower root loss with some moss in the pot and 2) Humidity tends to be low where I live, especially when we turn on the heat for 6 months of the year. But definitely repot asap, phals will just keep on blooming and the packed and decomposing spagnum is not a good medium for most home growers.

[Roberta]

Remember, an "expert" is someone who has killed 1000 orchids... the real number is a LOT higher and I am still a long way from "expert" ... But glad to share what I have learned so far.