Can I repot orchid in bloom?

[glittermom]

I am not a total beginner at growing orchids, more of a novice. I purchased several phalanopsis that are potted in sphagnum moss in plastic pots. My home is cool at 66°. The moss is too moist for too long. That much I know. I have not watered them since they arrived in mid January.
I want to get them out of the moss and into a more porous potting medium. Since they are in bloom, I was not sure if it was a good idea. What do you all recommend?

---------- Post added at 08:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:51 AM ----------

I just want to add that they were purchased from Hauserman's, not at Lowe's or Trader Joes.

[bethmarie]

I can't offer expertise, but can offer experience. I repotted a couple of blooming phals for the same reason. Both lost their flowers soon after repotting. I knew that was likely, but at the time it was worth it to me since I'd lost a couple to rot in moss. If yours are doing well, you could wait til after blooming to make the change. Just keep letting that moss dry well before watering!

[JerseyGirlBecky]

I have always repotted as soon as I get them. Most are in bloom and I have never had a problem. I keep mine a little warmer, around 70, and in an east window. I have ten of them and all but two are blooming. Has to be your decision. If you don't overwater, they should be fine for a while just as they are. I have found that the big change from the moss to the bark can be stressful to them so I use the med. bark and mix a little of the moss in. I never pack the moss around the roots. Good luck with them.

[BettyE]

Originally Posted by bethmarie

I can't offer expertise, but can offer experience. I repotted a couple of blooming phals for the same reason. Both lost their flowers soon after repotting. I knew that was likely, but at the time it was worth it to me since I'd lost a couple to rot in moss. If yours are doing well, you could wait til after blooming to make the change. Just keep letting that moss dry well before watering!

I like the above answer...I would like to state that I have re-potted phals when they are in bloom, however I found it a labor intense job. They,too were in moss. I gently eased each out of the glazed pot, then began the long task of carefully picking off the moss. I then cut off all black or dead roots. I then rinsed the roots off, and re-potted the orchid. Since phals have large, fat roots, I use large bark...60% I soak this together with 20% perlite, & 20% horicultural charcoal over night before re-potting. This, of course is only my personal way of doing the process...Good luck...Betty

[Paphluvr]

Originally Posted by glittermom

I am not a total beginner at growing orchids, more of a novice. I purchased several phalanopsis that are potted in sphagnum moss in plastic pots. My home is cool at 66°. The moss is too moist for too long. That much I know. I have not watered them since they arrived in mid January.
I want to get them out of the moss and into a more porous potting medium. Since they are in bloom, I was not sure if it was a good idea. What do you all recommend?

---------- Post added at 08:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:51 AM ----------

I just want to add that they were purchased from Hauserman's, not at Lowe's or Trader Joes.

It's probably better to get them out of the sphagnum moss and into something more suitable (given your temps) and risk loosing a few flowers rather than loosing roots and possibly the whole plant. It's just a bit more difficult due to the long flower spike.

[Bud]

I always repot Phals as soon as I get it home to check the roots whether it is in bloom or not....chances are it will have a ball of moss at the center of the root and that causes rot....some seedlings are placed in a bigger pot without taking out the ball of moss it was planted on when it was deflasked ....then the plant grows big and the ball of moss still underneath
the blooms might not get affected if you put it under flowing water in the sink and let the moss loosen out of the roots; that ways the roots dont get mangled much

[camille1585]

I've rarely had issues when repotting blooming orchids, including Phals. Most of them carry on like nothing happened.

I think it's your call to make. If the roots still look fine and you think that you can keep them healthy in sphagnum until they are done blooming, do that. Another option is to pull out a lot of the sphagnum so it isn't so densely packed, and then it should dry better.
If you are in any way worried about the plants, blooms or not you should repot. If you wait until after blooming and the plants suffered, at best the plants roots are in sorry shape and you have to nurse them back to health, and at worst you lose the plants.

[The Orchid Kid]

I recently did the same and all seems well. Having lost blooming phals in poor medium waiting for the flower to finish I now repot asap after purchase.

However, this is only if bought from a cheapy garden centre/supermarket. In the UK they seem to keep the spag on them from the seedling stage and it ends up getting a very wet centre and lots of rot issues.

If I buy from a orchid grower they have it in good stuff to start with.

My new mantra is the health of a plant that will last decades is more important than pretty flowers that last months. So, if it is in danger....repot and accept whatever happens.

[james mickelso]

The orchid kid is right. By the time the flowers fade and fall, the roots could be gone. 66* is cool but not too bad a temp for phals but it is perfect for root rot. So here's the deal. If you want to repot, and that doesn't mean you'll loose the flowers, do so carefully. Pre-wet your media the night before as already stated. Carefully pull out the phal from it's pot. Carefully pull out the moss from around and within the roots. Try your best not to twist, pull, crimp, and break the roots. It can be done. I've done it a lot. Place a little media in the bottom of the pot, put the plant in the pot but hold it so the roots aren't squashed, and gently put in the new media. Easy huh? Or don't repot it now but DO put a small fan nearby and let it help dry the media more quickly. That is the key. The faster it dries the better it will be. Not a hurricane fan but a small gentle breeze.

[james mickelso]

Oh. Here's a pic of what I pot mine into so I can water more and therefore feed more. They thrive in it.