Advice on new orchid - Orchid Board

catgrrrl · #1 05-31-2009, 06:44 PM

This past Friday, I received a new Phal. I-Hsin Spot Eagle "Montclair" which has a few buds and one nice fully opened flower from Hausermann. It's planted in an opaque, plastic 4" container in a dense, mossy, spongy medium (sphaghum moss mix?) which was a bit dry on top and the top roots wee dehydrated when I got it so I watered it. It's pretty soaked, now. I have been reading that this is not a great medium and I tend to have issues with overwatering plants - in general. I can feel a major impulse to re-pot in semi-hydroponics as I do not want rotting issues to start. I was only able to separate the bottom half of the medium to see how the roots are doing and they seem to be doing well. I didn't get into the more dense root area, though, as the mix is pretty packed in there since I wasn't planning on re-potting yet. What would you do? Should I just let it be until the flowering is done (possibly the fall) or do I just bite the bullet and re-pot now to prevent any possible future problems and lose the flowers now?

Any thoughts would be so appreciated.

dounoharm · #2 05-31-2009, 07:00 PM

repotting doenst mean you will lose flowers....particularly with phals, they take abuse like that like the champions they are! i wouldnt worry about repotting now...if you have issues with overwatering, best to do it now...i dont know about s/h, but i wouldnt hesitate to use bark which is my fav medium....someone else will chime in with info on the semi-hydro i am sure....good luck and enjoy!

catgrrrl · #3 05-31-2009, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dounoharm

repotting doenst mean you will lose flowers....particularly with phals, they take abuse like that like the champions they are! i wouldnt worry about repotting now...if you have issues with overwatering, best to do it now...i dont know about s/h, but i wouldnt hesitate to use bark which is my fav medium....someone else will chime in with info on the semi-hydro i am sure....good luck and enjoy!

Thanks, dounoharm. Patience is also something I have an issue with. I tend to "poke" at my plants too much. I know that's one of the many lessons orchids are supposed to teach me - hopefully without too many casualties. Ok. I'll just wait and keep an eye out for trouble. I thank you and my orchid thanks you, too.

Zoi2 · #4 05-31-2009, 07:19 PM

Wait until you have new root growth before repotting in s/h. After flowering, you should start seeing some new roots, then you can transfer to s/h.
Joann

catgrrrl · #5 05-31-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoi2

Wait until you have new root growth before repotting in s/h. After flowering, you should start seeing some new roots, then you can transfer to s/h.
Joann

Ok. Thanks, Joann. With the help of all of you, this baby will actually have a chance. Patience, Grasshopper....

Pilot · #6 05-31-2009, 10:19 PM

The semi-hydro method has worked very well for me. I repotted all of my plants to this method and they're currently reaching their new roots towards the water at the bottom. In fact, my white phal has gone crazy and is blooming new blooms on what I thought was a done spike.

catgrrrl · #7 06-01-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilot

The semi-hydro method has worked very well for me. I repotted all of my plants to this method and they're currently reaching their new roots towards the water at the bottom. In fact, my white phal has gone crazy and is blooming new blooms on what I thought was a done spike.

I had to re-pot one of the 2 I received on Friday and all I had was stuff for s/h. So far, it seems to be doing ok, although it was just Saturday morning that I did it. I like the concept of s/h, so hopefully, if I correctly execute it, I will have success, too. We'll see! I'm glad you are having such good experiences.