Media and spike care on a mini Phal?

[flowerpower]

Is a medium grade bark mix suitable or is that too large for the finer roots? My mini came potted in a fine bark and it's quite tightly packed. I can see the roots stay wet for quite some time.

It also has a branched-style spike. This is the way the spike is naturally structured (both branches produce flowers). Can these be cut back to a node the same way as Phals with a linear spike?

[trdyl]

A medium grade should be okay. It should not be tightly packed. As far as cutting the spike back yes it can. I usually only cut them back if the tip dies. Depending on the Phal some of them can bloom for several months puting out a few flowers at a time after the initial flowering. Do you know the Phal's name?

[flowerpower]

I will go with the medium grade bark when the flowers fade then.

I wonder if I should leave the spikes. I have always cut them to a node or cut at the base. When I have left them alone they didn't do anything, though my friend's Phal bloomed prolifically off an old spike without being cut.

It's a NoID I'm afraid. All of my Phals are. I have a pic handy just in case you wanted to see it. I love to show them off

[nenella]

Flowerpower, very nice orchids!
I have a question why do you want to change the medium? is it no longer fresh looking???are your roots not looking good?
If your roots stay wet for longer..Lucky you...You don't have to water as often....
Can you post pics of the medium/roots? as your plants look ok & I don't understand why you want to repot?

[flowerpower]

Thanks nenella. It looks so cute next to the big phals!

The roots do look very healthy. A few are poking through the bottom - also healthy. That's not really why I wanted to re-pot though.

As a new orchid, I am not sure how long it has been in its mix. Re-potting would put it into a fresh mix. In the meantime, I could get a closer look at the root system too.

I wouldn't say the bark looks particularly degraded. I have recently got three new orchids and was planning to put the others into the fresh bark mix too when the flowering has finished. I wanted to do this in time for the summer growth phase.

Do you think I am interfering with them too much and should wait until next summer? That is an option. This orchid is one of three new acquisitions I have received and was planning to do a re-pot of the three when the blooms fade. One of the other orchids had some rotten roots dangling through the bottom. However, it still has an extensive root system inside the pot and the rest still look very healthy. I assumed the pot was stood in water at some point. It spooked me a bit so I wanted to check them all out.

What do others usually do?