Repotting?? - Orchid Board

butterfly_muse · #1 05-07-2013, 04:16 PM

Hi everyone!

I hit the clearance cart at Lowe's the other day and got some very healthy Phals (I'm still learning and that's all our big box stores sell...I'm cool with it. ^_^). They seem quite happy with big, green roots, and are in clear plastic containers - two out of the three, anyway. One even has a spike that is growing a new mitten. Huzzah!

I know they are often tightly packed in sphag, which can restrict the roots and cause issues. I also know that Phals like to be a bit rootbound.

So I'm wondering whether or not I should remove my guys from their containers, pull out a little sphag to loosen them up a bit, and then just put them back in their cups? I have a bark/charcoal/perlite mix, but they seem quite happy in sphag. I have not grown in sphag, all of my guys are in bark, but since these orchids seem quite happy and healthy, I was thinking of just leaving them there and seeing how they did. Mostly I'm just worried about the sphag being too tight. They were bone dry when I got them, so I just gave them a good soak, drained them well, and stuck them over by the window where they seem to be quite happy.

Do you think this is a good idea? Do you think I should maybe do a sphag/bark mix??

Bud · #2 05-07-2013, 04:30 PM

Your instincts are correct, I usually check the roots upon bringing Phals to my home....learn the 'skewer' method if you want to retain the moss....it will be easy as you learn the watering regimen for your plant in your environment.
But you can also repot in bark mix if you are not comfortable with moss. It will need more watering if the media dries up faster. Look at videos on YouTube to learn repotting Phals.

butterfly_muse · #3 05-07-2013, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bud

Your instincts are correct, I usually check the roots upon bringing Phals to my home....learn the 'skewer' method if you want to retain the moss....it will be easy as you learn the watering regimen for your plant in your environment.
But you can also repot in bark mix if you are not comfortable with moss. It will need more watering if the media dries up faster. Look at videos on YouTube to learn repotting Phals.

I actually have skewers in all of my phals already, and have repotted most of them from sphag into bark. But they had been looking sad or had been in their sphag for 1 year or more. These guys seem quite happy. I think I may just loosen the moss and stick them back in. They've got their skewers in them, and at least I'd be able to have a look at the roots in the inner portion of the moss. Should I move them to bark, or put some in there? Or just leave them be? Will it hurt the one with the bloom spike growing on it to mess with it?

Bud · #4 05-07-2013, 05:02 PM

I repot them even while in bloom, I just don't disturb the roots or break some....I soak it for 5 min then let the flowing water in the sink loosen off the moss and clean the roots with the aid of an old toothbrush. I am specifically looking for the ball of moss at the center of the root mass....this is the one I remove. Its been there since the plant was a seedling but the repot didn't clean it; was just dropped wholly in to a bigger pot.
Its up to you if you want to use bark or moss; as long as you are comfortable with it....

butterfly_muse · #5 05-07-2013, 05:04 PM

I actually just picked the moss apart, rinsed the roots, and stuck them into some bark. I kept a little tiny bit of the old moss just to put around the roots that weren't covered by bark, and I am soaking them (the bark was dry, this is a spur of the moment thing). I am hoping they feel better after this! There was a lot of really tightly packed moss in the middle. Luckily, though, only one dead root per plant!

Cintirella · #6 05-10-2013, 02:18 PM

Can you tell me about your mix? ( bark/charcoal/perlite mix )-- what's the brand and where to buy it? Thanks

butterfly_muse · #7 05-10-2013, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cintirella

Can you tell me about your mix? ( bark/charcoal/perlite mix )-- what's the brand and where to buy it? Thanks

Amazon.com: Sun Bulb 5002 Better-Gro Special Orchid Mix, 8 Quarts: Patio, Lawn & Garden

I buy Better Gro Special Orchid Mix - The Lowes by my house has it, which is where I got my Phals from on clearance, so I just picked it up there. I'm not a "serious grower" at the moment so I don't want to dump a bunch of $$$$$ into something I might kill just yet, haha! My plants seem to like it, since I've repotted them, they have happily started growing new roots and one is even giving me a new leaf. The only suggestion I would have is to pre-soak the bark to open it up and kind of get it to a point where it will hold moisture better. I've potted orchids with it right out of the bag, but I soak them for two half hour intervals to try to moisturize the bark, and then I put a bamboo skewer in them and check their moisture every day.

Hope that helps.

Also, it's only $6 or so at Lowes, where it looks like it's normally $8 on Amazon, so you can get it there. If you don't have one, I would wager Home Depot might have it too, though I'm not sure. The Lowes is closer so I just go there.

Cintirella · #8 05-10-2013, 02:29 PM

That's what I use. Miracle grow for Orchids ( with Orchid food for up to 6 months )- but recently I've been wanting to try the bark. Seems every Orchid I've seen comes with bark. I may just Mix the two?

butterfly_muse · #9 05-10-2013, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cintirella

That's what I use. Miracle grow for Orchids ( with Orchid food for up to 6 months )- but recently I've been wanting to try the bark. Seems every Orchid I've seen comes with bark. I may just Mix the two?

Is the Miracle Gro a mix? I'd be cautious with that, Miracle Gro's mix I've heard (I have never seen/used it) is more like soil, which is damaging for plants that are epiphytic and not terrestrial. It could damage the roots and cause rot. I'd recommend if you want to mix for more moisture content, mixing the bark mix with maybe some good quality sphag.