rehab for grocery store Phals in moss?

[tabula_rasa]

Hi folks -
I'm just getting back to growing orchids after a long break - overseas, then moving frequently... I'm starting modestly, picking up over-the-counter phalaenopsis in grocery stores, etc.
The first two or three I bought have all 'gone the way of all flesh' after finishing their blooming cycle, and I have begun to think it's the fault of their potting - they all seem to have been bunged into heavy moss to 'keep them moist' while in the store so folks don't have to give them much care. Clearly this isn't a good idea for the root systems, which are swamped - literally.
My question is: Can I afford to wait until they finish blooming to repot them into some more suitable medium, or should I take the risk of doing it while they're in bloom, to moderate the damage to their root systems? Any thoughts would be welcome.
David in Southern Indiana

[dounoharm]

hi david and welcome to the orchid board and back to orchid growing! i think you should repot em now, phals being tough little boogers....they should hold thier flowers thru the process, but if they dont, the plant will still thank you for getting its roots out where they can breathe in some new media....repot away!

[sucuz]

Yes, welcome to OB!

I agree about repotting right away. Many on this board have reported success in repotting phals in bloom. You just have to be careful not to damage the bloom spike. If you do break it, just put it in a vase of water so you can still enjoy it. It is better to save the plant so it can bloom again next year than to save the bloom (temporary) and lose the plant (permanent).

[Sandy4453]

Originally Posted by tabula_rasa

Hi folks -
My question is: Can I afford to wait until they finish blooming to repot them into some more suitable medium, or should I take the risk of doing it while they're in bloom, to moderate the damage to their root systems? Any thoughts would be welcome.
David in Southern Indiana

You can wait. The only big difference between having your Phals in sphagnum or bark is in the frequency/how often you'll need to water them and of course, that depends on where you've got them (in/outside and time of year). I don't know why sphagnum gets such a bad rap. I've got close to 90 Phals, some in bark mix, some in sphagnum w/sponge rock and some, in a mix of bark and sphagnum. Phals like getting their roots fed and wet and if you provide the right conditions inside the pot to allow the mix to dry evenly and consistently, then you should see good results with whatever medium you choose. Sphagnum needs to be prevented from getting too condensed and heavy but to be honest, I've had great results with nothing added (because of pot size, ie., seedlings and warmer growing species). You just have to know when to water with sphag. Another great thing about the stuff is that it's much easier to water. I find with bark, a longer drenching is required and when you've got so many and you're watering one-by-one, the sphag cooperates much faster!

[Ray]

I think David has to be more explicit about the condition of the moss before we can make any decent recommendation.

Orchid roots need air. If the moss is too compressed, it simply doesn't allow enough gas exchange to occur, and once watered, it blocks the few pathways that remain. Follow the advice in the first two responses.

If, on the other hand, it's not all that compressed, Sandy is right and it can wait, and David just needs to have a light hand with watering.

[tabula_rasa]

Thanks all - yes, the medium is fairly compressed, and isn't allowing a lot of air circulation. I appreciate your help.
David