To repot, or not to repot?

[Angurek]

...that is my question.

I ask this because I have an orchid that I'm not sure what to do with. The plant in question is a Pes. lehmannii growing in an 8" plastic basket filled with Sphag. I want to put it in a 10" pot with bark because the sphag is beginning to deteriorate, and I don't want the roots to burn.

The problem is that many of the plant's roots are wrapped tightly around the basket, and I don't want to disturb the root system too much. Should I tease the plant out of the basket and put it into a pot, or should I simply pick out the moss and replace it with fresh medium?

I appreciate any and all help.

[camille1585]

If you don't think it's possible to get the plant out of the basket without significant damage to the roots, I would try to pick out the sphag and replace it with some fresh stuff. It might be better to leave it in sphag, since these guys like staying a bit damp. As Orchidwiz puts it so well, the rainfall pattern in it's natural habitat is "wet and wetter". Bark is a drier medium, and the plant might not appreciate the transition after growing in nice moisture retentive sphag.

[Angurek]

Thanks, Camille. I'll go ahead and try that, then.