Repotting - with small new spike?

[stimpson]

all! Should I re-pot my phal, even though a small spike has started to emerge from the base? Or will this do more harm than good? I got my phal a little over a year ago. Last week, it dropped its last flower. I trimmed the spike back to the first V branch-out. see pictures...

[Izzie]

If the spike is just starting, it should be fine.

If the media was awful and it was in bloom, I'd still say to repot. The health of the plant comes before saving flowers- and repotting doesn't always make the buds blast.

In this case though, as I said, you should be fine.
Are there new roots starting? Do you have rooting hormone like SuperThrive or KLN? Those might be good to use for a little while until you see some new roots starting.

[Izzie]

Go me for replying before looking at your pictures.

That new growth looks an awful lot like a new root rather than a new spike. It's hard to tell with the picture being out of focus.

Does it have a smooth tip, or does it look like a mitten?
Mitten:spike.

Either way, right now will be a good time to repot.

[stimpson]

I'm pretty sure it's a new spike, it does look like a mitten and I could already see the first "segment" on the spike. The pot isn't breaking down yet, it's plastic, but I don't know how all the root system is doing, as it's got all this spongy medium covering it. Maybe I'll re-pot it then...

[Izzie]

It's the media you have to worry about breaking down, not the pot. Sorry I wasn't clearer.
That's sphagnum moss on the top.

It looks like you might be able to lift that clear plastic pot out- great way to check on the roots and media.

Definitely go ahead and repot it, I bet you that moss is really packed in. The roots will be much happier with a fresher medium that allows them to breathe.

Have you repotted before? What mediums do you have, or have access to?

The media you choose will depend on your growing conditions and watering habits.
I. So it would be great to know your humidity, temperatures, and light that your phal is exposed to.
II. How often have you been watering?

[quiltergal]

That's definitely a spike. Nice job! Now would be a perfect time to repot. The spike is still little and just developing so repotting won't harm it at all. As Izzie said your choice of medium will depend on your growning conditions, and your watering habits. I only have time to water once a week and we have very hot dry summers here so I use coconut husk chunks because they retain more water than traditional fir bark but way less than sphag. If I had time to water every day I might switch to bark or hydroton because it dries faster.

[jrodpad]

I've repotted one of my phals while it had a small spike (after cutting back the first spike when it lost all of its flowers).

I wanted to change the potting medium from sphag to a bark/charcoal/pearlite mixture that I've had some luck with in the past.

The spike was fine, continued to grow and the flowers were perfect - no worse for the wear.

My only advice is to be aware of the spike when repotting so as not to damage the tip. If you do transition from sphag to a bark mix, the phal will likely require more frequent watering than it did when it was in the sphag as the bark mixes tend to dry out faster (although the bark mixture will be more thirsty for the first few weeks).

Good luck!

[Izzie]

A great way to get mixes like bark and CHC (coconut husk chips) to hold more water at the beginning is to soak in boiling water first, then switching to normal water with or without KLN or Superthrive.

I soak mine for a few days until the water stays clear- so my roots aren't stained, and the media is really ready to go.
CHC should always be soaked for a few or several days before using, no matter where you get it from- it's inherently salty otherwise.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by jrodpad

I If you do transition from sphag to a bark mix, the phal will likely require less frequent watering than it did when it was in the sphag as the bark mixes tend to dry out faster (although the bark mixture will be more thirsty for the first few weeks).

Good luck!

I think you meant the bark mix will require MORE frequent watering ...
And yes, initially bark will dry quickly. You can soak the bark for a day - prior to using it. It will help a little

[RosieC]

I've never had a problem repotting with small spikes.

Actually I have one which is just starting it's first buds on the spike and I'm planning to repot this weekend. I think once the flowers get close to opening you may have more of a problem, but even then it can often be fine.