Help! WalMart Orchid and I have NO idea

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

There's nothing terribly wrong with it.

It needs to be repotted in a pot that's just 1/2" larger. Preferably with a clear plastic pot, to be able to see the roots, and to allow the roots for photosynthesis.

The leaves are upright only because it has been in that plastic sleeve that it's packaged in for a very long time. Over time, it will flop over the edge of the pot again, like its supposed to.

[sarahlydear]

Thanks for the advice! Right now I'm not to worried about when she blooms, I just want her to live. Maybe if she lasts a few years, I'll be settled into my own place by then, I'll get more hard core about blooming and what not.
But I am curious about mounting? What exactly is that?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by sarahlydear

Thanks for the advice! Right now I'm not to worried about when she blooms, I just want her to live. Maybe if she lasts a few years, I'll be settled into my own place by then, I'll get more hard core about blooming and what not.
But I am curious about mounting? What exactly is that?

Putting the plant on a piece of wood or a living tree/shrub (tree or shrub can sometimes depend on the species). It's a way of growing epiphytical orchids that closely mimics how they grow in the wild.

If the humidity in your area is too low, and the orchid requires copious amounts of humidity, it may take some special measures to make sure the orchid grows properly using mounted culture.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Mounted culture is not necessarily more difficult, btw.

Sometimes, for certain kinds of orchids, it's necessary under certain circumstances.

[sarahlydear]

Mkay; well I've read that I should wait until spring to replant, do you think I should wait that long or go on ahead and do it now?

[sarahlydear]

sorry I'm having issues, ignore this reply

[ardera]

You can actually repot at any time, but I usually wait until it is done flowering, as it does kind of shock the plant, and could cause your buds to blast/or die. The only time I repot when it is blooming, is if the roots are really bad, and the plant desperately needs it. But looking at your pics, it looks like your roots are healthy, so I would wait until it is done flowering.

[Daethen]

I don't think you need to repot right now. The roots look great to me. I would wait until spring and just get the hang of taking care of her. She is a beauty. Looks pretty healthy actually.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

It's not necessary to repot right away with your specific plant.

However, if there's a problem, I recommend repotting right away, flowers or no flowers.

In general, repotting at any time of the year is fine, as long as minimal damage is done to the roots. Bud blast will not always occur due to repotting. What usually causes the buds to blast out during a repotting session is the amount of damage that is done to the roots or if the roots are not able to recover from the repotting fast enough for whatever reason (out of your control, don't worry about this somewhat poorly understood phenomenon so much).

The recommendation for a spring repotting is because Phals usually start growing around mid to late spring. Active growth, may mean active root growth (again, take into consideration I used the word "may"). Repotting during active root growth reduces your risks of setting the plant back, it's just a horticultural tactic, not a hard fast rule.

The name of the game is to have things going in your favor as much as humanly possible and to take control when you have control.

With that said, even though I agreed with the others that it doesn't need an immediate repotting, I also believe that it needs to be done some time within 2 to 3 months. Too much "aerial roots" in too low a humidity setting may run the risk of roots shriveling.

Again, playing things by ear, if the "aerial roots" start to shrivel, disregard waiting to repot, and repot when you start feeling uncomfortable with leaving them exposed to the air any further.

[prc11]

Neve just ad ice. This will not give the plant enough water. and freeze any stem that is on it. This is a gimic that keeps it alive till it is done flowering. Run water through the pot for about 10 seconds. Orchids like to be pot bound you should repot it in bark (should be able to find at lowes or home depot, that's where I get mine) or moss after it is done blooming. Every 2 years for bark and one for moss. Going back to watering let it just about dry out, then water it. Give it good indirect sunlight and make sure there are holes at the bottom of pot. Phals hate sitting in water (unless we are talking semi-hydroponic, but that's a whole other forum.)fertilize it every other watering at one forth strength and it should be fine. Good Luck