repotting phal?

[K.Veren]

Hi all, I just welcomed a new member to my lovely orchid family-- it's a truly spectacular white orchid with tons of buds (30!), but it seems a little root-bound and I'm terrified as I face repotting. When I look at the pot all I can see through the plastic is roots.
Should I repot? Or should I wait? When is the best time?
And should I get a larger pot, or should I just trim off some of the old roots and keep the same pot? If I should trim, how do I decide what roots to trim?

as an aside, one of the smaller buds at the edge of one of the branches leading off the main spike just shriveled up and fell off this morning, is it possible I'm killing my new baby? I checked and the root system looks healthy with no sign of rot; is it something else? Or is it just normal?

Thank you all SO much for all your help; your guidance has led my other two orchids (one on the verge of dying when I got it) to sprout two new leaves each!

[Ray]

Do not repot a plant in bloom. I had an old-timer once tell me years ago "Blooming is a plant's expression of its sexuality. How would you like to be disturbed while you were expressing yours?"

Often, after a plant has finished blooming, it will undergo a period of time in which nothing seems to be happening. Them, it will start growing new roots (usually leaves, too), and that is the best time to repot it.

Do your best to never damage roots, i.e., no trimming! The exception, however, are dead roots, which tend to be soft and mushy, rather than firm, like good ones. They can be removed.

Usually you will want to move the plant up to a slightly larger size pot, but if the plant sustained much root loss before repotting, that may not be necessary.

Bud blast could be the result of poor culture, or could be due to any number of factors related to a change in the growing conditions. Share more about your growing conditions, and we might be able to help more.

[RosieC]

I sounds as though your roots are healthy and potbound is not a problem for a Phal, I would wait until it has finished flowering, and as Ray has said, when it is actively growing roots is the best time.

When you do repot you should use a pot just big enough to easily fit the roots. As Ray said, if you have had to remove a lot of roots you probably want the same size pot (or maybe even smaller) but if yours is already looking pot bound then it is likely you will want to go to a bigger pot.

Bud blast could be due to the changing conditions from the shop to where you now keep it, especially if everything else looks good.