Time To Repot???

[yager]

Newbie with some plant experience, just not with orchids. This phalenopsis was in bloom when I purchased it. The flowers fell so I cut the stock off and put it under artificial light (sunleaves pioneer VI 6x54w) about one foot below lights. Watered with distilled water and fish emulsion mixture. Within 2 weeks new leaves started and the root grew like crazy. It is now pushing its second new leaf and as you can see the roots are trying to get out. Should I repot now or will I get a second bloom this year w/out repotting? The lights are on a timer for 12/12. I believe this is a Phalenopsis, it had the big white flowers you see in grocery stores and home depot. Any advice will be awsome.

[Ross]

You can repot any time. Not necessary, but it could be done. Lotsa moss on this one, which will one day lead to root rot (in my experience.) I would repot into a coarse bark mix in a clear pot (so I could check on roots). Hope this helps.

[yager]

thanx ross do you grow your mini's under artificial light? If so what kind and how far from tubes?

[kiki-do]

It is a phal and it looks fantastic. Moss is only good for a year, then you should repot. I too use an orchid mix instead of moss as I tend to want to water too often, I think. Moss is tricky as you don't want it to stay too wet for long periods of time.
Whatever you are doing, you are doing a top notch job with that plant. Roots love to come out, so that is normal behavior.
It is a good time to repot when it's actively growing. But if you are just worrying about new blooms, I believe you will have them whether you repot or not. The choice is yours.
If you use a mix of bark, chips, etc, be sure to soak it overnight for at least 24 hours.
You will do fine!

[Ross]

Originally Posted by yager

thanx ross do you grow your mini's under artificial light? If so what kind and how far from tubes?

Yes and no. I have several in a south-facing grow window supllemented with t5 CF bulbs. I have about half my collection (mostly Angraecoides) under lights in the basement. Many of the Paphs are minis. Several of the Brassavolas are minis. The Masdies are really small (not minis, per se.) Mini Phals, Sederias, etc. Everything in the tank is a mini of one sort or the other. Light ranges in tank from 2000 FCs at top to 800 FCs at bottom. In Grow window, light ranges from 3500FCs to a dismal 750 FCs.

[unhappykat]

the plant doesnt look like it neds repotting, roots emerging out of the top are not bad they just mean its time to grow, I would reccomend you lift the plant from the pot and check what is going on down inside, if there are lots of green plump roots all around the ball of moss you can leav the plant alone for another bloom cycle before you repot, if you see a bunch of dead brown or black mushy roots then it is time to repot into a media of your choice, I like spag moss but some phals really need the bark. It looks very healthy so it is most likely not going to need a repot for another bloom cycle.

[yager]

Thank you to all this is great advice!!!

[Cookiemonster]

It also depends on your watering habits and well the overall environment..
I live in arizona, I have to pot my phals in sphag moss or they're toast- bark is too drying, your phal looks very happy with roots going everywhere !

[snow]

phals and most orchids in general like to be potbound. they seem to bloom better this way.
just be very very carefull with that type of medium.for all the reasons others have already mentioned.

[Ray]

That's funny, Snow. I find just the opposite to be true with phals. In fact, I usually move phals into pots that are as large - if not a bit larger - than their leaf span.