new phal questions

[miakaye]

I bought yet another cheap "finished phal" at Kroger yesterday. Leaves and roots look good. Extremely root bound (as usual). I was planning to repot in larger pot in bark (and root prune, if absolutely necessary), but I'm not sure about the spikes. There are three, and all have a bud. I'm assuming I should leave them for a second bloom? Any other suggestions on how to best care for this newbie are appreciated.

[FranningtonBear]

I’m certainly no expert but I have several “rescue” phal’s in my collection all of which have arrived in similar states to yours.

Personally, I would repot now into a medium grade orchid bark, depending on your temperature and the location (light level) in your home I might also add a little sphagnum. I would do it now with the full knowledge that these buds may well blast (they might do without a repot anyway) and take the approach that you are setting the plant up for the best recovery and to begin growing in strength.

I’m interested and look forward to finding out if any of the more experienced growers here would do differently!

[rbarata]

Usually Phals can be repoted any time, evem wuehn spiking/blooming.
If the buds blast that's, probably, due to environmental change.
You should repot because those mass produced orchids are poted with water retentive medium so that can be on store displays for a long time without watering.

[Roberta]

Don't rush to cut roots. The number of definitely good roots would drive the decision - a root with rotted velamin (the spongy coating on the roots) can still at least passively hydrate the plant. So consider just gently stripping off rotted stuff with your fingers, then give a good washing under the faucet. Those "strings" are actualy the functioning part of the root, and can also serve to anchor the plant in place when repotted (really important that it be held firmly, no wobbling). If you have lots of good roots, then you can consider trimming the really bad ones. But remember, if you remove too many, the plant will have no way to hydrate itself while growing new ones. And Phals don't have pseudobulbs as a reserve.

[Mountaineer370]

In most cases, I am in the habit of repotting newly-purchased Phals pretty much as soon as feasible, but especially ones that came from a local grocery store, of which I do have a few. The last one I bought from Kroger's had some kind of a soaking wet peat plug encased in a plastic cage down in the pot. Another one was in sphagnum moss packed so tightly I had to cut it apart in chunks to remove it.

Your Phal looks healthy right now, with beautiful roots showing through the sides of the pot. I think it could use a pot one size larger. I'm partial to chunky bark, but there are plenty of members here who use other potting media with good results. It's really a personal preference, greatly dependent on how often you are willing to water.

Ditto to Roberta's wise post starting with, "Don't rush to cut roots."

As far as the spikes, yes, they look like they could produce more buds, but if I had to choose between losing future flowers from those existing spikes, and getting that orchid out of its mass-market pot and medium, I would take a chance on losing a spike or two. With proper care and culture for your growing conditions, it will recover quickly and produce more flowers in the future.

[WaterWitchin]

What Roberta says ^^ Don't cut roots.

[estación seca]

I don't cut spikes. You rarely lose them with repotting unless the plant is completely rootless.

Tightly packed sphagnum moss works well once you learn how to water it. But you can't have plants in bark alongside plants in sphagnum unless you're really careful and don't mix them up.