Dog's Tail went Astray, How to repot in sphag

[zxyqu]

hey All. My dog's tail accidentally knocked over one of my phals potted in sphag. While I'm not a huge fan of sphag, the phal just isn't ready to be repotted in a new media, so I'd like to just reconfigure it in the pot with some more sphag.
My main problem is it was already bursting from the pot it was in, so once it popped out, there was no going back in. So my question is, how does one properly repot in sphag. Should I really push the sphag down in, or what. Thanks in advance

[tucker85]

You're probably going to get several different opinions on this. Some people pack tightly, some loosely and some in between. I favor the in between method. I don't pack tightly, but I want to push the sphagnum down enough to make sure there's no big openings underneath. I like to use the dull end of a stake or a pencil to push the sphag down in around the roots to make sure there's no empty spaces. The sphagnum should be wet when to repot with it. Good luck.

[Cym Ladye]

If it was already bursting the pot when the dog's tail struck, it WAS READY TO REPOT. Anything other than spagnum in my opinion.

CL

[Daethen]

I like sphag. I think Tucker has a good idea. I pack mine in just tight enough to keep the plant in place. That way it will dry out at about the right rate in my conditions.

[Eyebabe]

I do not pack phals tightly with sphag.
I mix my sphag with perilite about 2 part sphag to 1 part perilite.
I wet the sphag then ring it out(squeeze out excess water with my hand) before I use it.
Again, I put enough in to make it snug and really am careful not to over pack.
I like to put as much of a ball around the root system and gently hold it around the roots while I place them down in the pot. So you may need a bigger pot. I prefer clear plastic with side slits.
Then after I have the plant placed in the pot, I put in any extra I need etc to make it snug...if it begins to seem too tight, I dump the thing out and start over