Flowers die if repot?

[Ducktor Robotanist]

I understand the general rule of thumb is to repot after the orchid is done flowering, but I just got a new phalaenopsis (rescued it from Home Depot), and I want to get it into a new pot with better soil to make sure the roots are OK and everything. If I repot it into a slighly bigger pot, will the flowers die off, or will it be ok? Not really experienced at orchid growing, but with many other plants flowers will die off as the plant puts energy towards filling out the new pot with roots.

Should I repot it, you think?

Thanks

Ducktor Robotanist

[WhiteRabbit]

Phals usually are fine to repot while in bloom - they don't seem to mind at all

You may want to keep it in the same pot - or same size pot - depending on the roots - if they fit fine in the current pot

Make sure you do not use 'potting soil' - you want to use an orchid mix usually consisting of medium fir bark chips.

Other people use other media, but orchid bark mix is usually the easiest to obtain.

I'm sure we would all love to see pix of your beauty!

[Ducktor Robotanist]

Thanks

Yeah I got some miraclegro "orchid potting mix", i dont know what components are in it, but im sure it will be fine.

Ill take some pictures when im finished

[Ducktor Robotanist]

Ok well here is the pot that it came in, and I had no luck getting the roots back into it with new soil. It was very, very cramped...

ImageShack - Image Hosting :: cimg1768.jpg

Here is the pot I put it in. Its all I had, other than pots that were similar in size to the one it came in...

ImageShack - Image Hosting :: cimg1770.jpg

Close up ( I am a terrible photographer, shaky hands.)

http://img211.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cimg1772.jpg

[John D.]

Nice flower!
The medium looks a little fine, which means it will hold more water and have less air circulation. Watch out not to overwater.

[Blueszz]

To be honest, the pot seems too large, but without seeing the root mass it's hard to tell. As John said, the medium looks very fine. In combination with a pot that is too large for it's root mass, be care full not to over water!

Nicole

[camille1585]

I've repotted phals in bloom before, and I have never lost a bloom. But as said before, the pot might be a bit big and the medium a bit fine. Usually when the roots don't fit in the pot anymore, going up just one size is more than enough. Orchids like snug roots, and it also helps the medium dry out more evenly.
Your phal could stay like that, but like already mentioned, you will need to be careful with watering.