Repotting phals while in bloom, help!

[rehric00]

Hi, I am very new to orchids, but I am addicted already. My first 2 phals were small cheap ones from Lowe's that I've had for about a month. I wanted to see how they would do before I invested anymore money into them. A about 2 weeks ago, I found 2 awesome bigger phals on clearance, one for $3 and one for $7, so I said what the heck and got them. I have already repotted the smaller ones bc the roots were not looking so hot. They were in bloom and most the flowers are falling off. I think I waited to long to repot them.

So.. My main question is, Should I repot the 2 other ones I have being that they are in full bloom with lots of buds? They are in sphag moss and I am afraid the roots are going to rot, but I don't want to loose my flowers.. (I know, better to loose flowers than loose the plant). But is there anything I can do to save the flowers after repotting?? Thanks!

[rehric00]

PS- I used a mixture of Miracle grow Orchid mix (which is more dense) and Better-Gro Phaleanopsis mix (more bulky medium with bark and charcoal, etc). And I fertilized with Miracle grow orchid food.

[mab3362]

I have repotted while in bloom with no adverse affects, but I would wait, you risk shocking them and they may drop all flowers. Don't worry about them being in sphag, I grow all of mine it. If they aren't rotted, simply don't water it very often, only when it is almost dry. Stick your finger down in to the side of the pot, if its still wet, don't water. It may only need water every two weeks and odds are they were heavily overwatered where you purchased them and good stand a couple of weeks to dry off. Of course if the roots are bad, then by all means cut off the flowers and repot.

[Royal]

Originally Posted by rehric00

PS- I used a mixture of Miracle grow Orchid mix (which is more dense) and Better-Gro Phaleanopsis mix (more bulky medium with bark and charcoal, etc). And I fertilized with Miracle grow orchid food.

mab3362 gave you some good advice. I would also wait. Just let them dry out if they're soggy. If they stay too wet for too long, a little extra air movement could help (they probably came from a greenhouse that had huge fans running constantly).

As for your potting mix, I would avoid the MG mix. The better gro is your best choice between the two. The chunky stuff allows for nice air spaces, but if you use both the MG mix just fills in those spaces. Roots need air. Just use one or the other (I would go with the BG) or get some new sphag.

As for fertilizer, MG fert is pretty stout for orchids if mixed as directed. Half strength is a safe bet. However, the MG mix probably has some mixed in as well so you may be overdoing it. Give them all a good flush with plain water the next time around. Good luck and post a few pics of when you get a chance. We love bloom pics!

[BobInBonita]

I personally would not use the Miracle Grow mix (it's barely ok for Vanilla, but not much else in my opinion. If I did use it, I would not fertilize for 3-6 months because of the fertilizer in it already.

Everybody has a different growing style and you will need to find yours. Hopefully it will be a fast journey with few lost plants.

One of your first choices will be the medium you use. They all work for some people, and they all are fatal in others hands. You need to pick something that works with YOU and YOUR conditions and habits.

I grow primarily outdoors in Florida, so my plants are exposed to near daily watering (rain) in summer. For me, sphagnum is an impossibility, but yet others (including commercial growers) use it with great success (with good watering discipline).

Many of my phals came from the bargain table at Lowes. Many of them spent months in intensive care because of it. I now repot everything that has been in sphag immediately. Under my conditions they are way too wet at the store, adn they dry out way too slowly. Your conditions may be different, but at least look at the roots and loosen the sphag. If they get plants from the same source as my local Lowes, they have been grown in a smaller pot, they have been overpacked in a large pot with VERY tight sphag that is too high up on the stem. You can frequently find the original level about half an inch below the sphag (top of the roots are still nice and green). I think they sell better to the mass markets when they look like house plants (no aerial or visible roots). I no longer get much at Lowes (unless it just arrived, and then I repot immediately).

Good luck and let us know what happens.

[scy]

I bought my first orchid (dendrobium) from Lowes and it was packed in tight sphag inside a pot with poor drainage holes. I was afraid of repotting, because I didn't want to lose the beautiful flowers. The roots were rotted underneath, because it stayed too wet, and I was afraid to repot and look. There was also a scale and fungus gnat issue. My dendrobium lost all of its leaves and it took a lot of effort and time to save it. My growing conditions did not allow for it to dry out fast enough.

I am not saying that you have to repot, but just suggesting you make sure that the pot has adequate drainage holes and that the sphag is not too tightly packed. Just based on my own personal experience, I will unpot it so I can check on the root condition and insects. I use a wooden skewer to help me monitor how wet the medium is without having to shove my fingers in the pot. Sometimes the medium is dry on the surface but still relatively moist in the middle.

I have repotted 2 orchids in bloom (dendrobium & phal) and neither has dropped buds. Good luck!