Re-Pot My Phal? - Orchid Board

Shelley · #1 08-12-2008, 10:30 PM

Hi Everyone!

I'm not sure what to do about one of my phals. I've had it about a year and a half, and I'm noticing it doesn't seem to be drying out. I have to water my other phal twice as much as this one. It's probably been two weeks since I watered it, but the bottom of the pot still feels moist. There is a large hole at the bottom of the pot that I can stick my finger up into. The bark (fine grade) seems to be compacted with no spaces near the bottom of the pot. The phal is doing well with new growth and roots, but it did only put out one spike as opposed to the two it had last year.

I'm thinking I should re-pot it now for better drainage, or should I let it go since it seems healthy and happy. I am noticing some dead/dry roots at the top of the pot above the bark.

Thoughts?

Shelley

quiltergal · #2 08-12-2008, 10:41 PM

I'd repot. If you are noticing the medium is decayed and moist at the bottom you will most likely have a bit of root rot going on which may explain why it doesn't need to watered as often as the other one. There aren't as many viable roots to absorb water.

Shelley · #3 08-12-2008, 10:48 PM

Thank you Terri, those were my thoughts too, but being new to this, I like confirmation that I'm not going to kill my plants. Hopefully I'll grow out of that! :-)

Shelley

quiltergal · #4 08-12-2008, 11:06 PM

You will! Repotting seems intimidating the first time you try it, but it's really not so bad. Your plants will thank you.

camille1585 · #5 08-13-2008, 08:35 AM

I agree, time to repot! The roots aren't necessarily bad/rotted, it's just that the medium can't dry out as fast if it's degraded. My phals really like medium grade bark with a little bit of cropped sphagnum moss. Plus I noticed that my phals really like being repotted. I go easy on the water for a few weeks, and tons of new roots and leaves appear once the plant gets over the shock of repotting.

jkofferdahl · #6 08-13-2008, 11:08 AM

I would also go with repotting. Phals do well with it; in fact, I've even repotted newly acquired plants in bloom without losing flowers. You just have to be a little careful, and use a good potting medium. Here in Georgia I've found that bark with about 20% cut up sphagnum makes them very happy.

An important key to potting a Phal is to make sure that it is good and tight in the pot. If they wobble they are insecure, and when they're insecure they don't like to grow new roots. Pack the medium as tightly as possible without damaging the existing roots. When finished you should be able to pick the whole thing up by the plant's base without the pot shifting or falling off.

Water sparingly for a while, mist a little extra, and once you see signs of new root growth treat the newly potted plant like all of your others.