Blooming Phal needs repotting!?

[trancentrees]

Firstly as this is officially my first post so I'm a newbie, so please be patient...

I seriously need some advice please. I have a phal which has remained in constant bloom for the last 18 months. Over the last couple of weeks the bottom leaves have started to look a bit wilted and droopy. I think it probably needs a bigger pot and some fresh bark but I don't know if I can repot it while it is still blooming? I'm terrified that I'm going to kill it off as it was my first orchid so rather sentimental, especially since it hasn't stopped blooming. Any advice would be appreciated!

[RandomGemini]

That could mean absolutely nothing at all. Orchids do periodically drop their lower leaves to allow room for new ones to grow. I've lost the lower leaves on several of my phals and there was no need to repot, everything was fine.

Phals tend to like to get a little bit root bound anyway, you only want to plant them in a pot that is just about big enough for their roots to fit in, with a small amount of room to grow, a half inch around from the roots of the plant if I remember right, but someone with more experience is welcome to correct me!

Pics of the pot it's currently in, and its roots and the area of the plant where the leaves have dropped off would be very helpful, but you will need to post a couple of more times before the forum will allow you to post the pics.

Hope this is helpful!

[trancentrees]

Thanks for the insight. I'm just concerned that it might need repotting as it hasn't had a change in almost 2 years...yet contradictory to that is the fact that it hasn't stopped flowering. It had a new stem about three months ago and still full flowers, the other stem has two flowers just on the tip that just stay there, in perfect condition. Not sure what the average time span is for the actual flowers, but these two have been there for months with no change.?? Either way, it seems to be in the perfect spot and happy as can be...apart from the drooping leaves, also look a bit wrinkly? Is it possible that I have maybe under watered it through the summer months??? Hopefully I can get a picture or two on of it soon to clarify.


---------- Post added at 09:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:13 PM ----------

On closer inspection, I notice the top leaves, although not drooping, have the same wrinkly effect starting...??

I will take pictures in the daylight tomorrow and hopefully able to post.

[HighSeas]

Welcome! It would be more helpful if we could see a picture of the phal. It's difficult to get an idea of the plants health without actually seeing the condition of the plant.

How often are you watering? Do you have active root growth? These are some of the assessments that can be made by sight. Otherwise, we're all just guessing in the wind.

You may be watering too much...or not enough. You may have good roots or they may be rotted. Who knows? I'd snatch him right out of the pot, blooming or not and check out the root system. If you have nice healthy roots, you aren't watering enough. If they are rotten, you are watering too much. Are there buglets?

Take him out of the pot and assess the roots. This is a great place to learn and we all welcome you! Good luck!

[trancentrees]

Wow, okay I would never thought of just pulling him out and having a look... guess I'm too paranoid being a beginner! Definately not over watering, but do suspect under watering, I drizzle water every other week and just lightly mist spray almost every morning, bearing in mind this is what I've done for the last 18 months and he's one happy fella. The bark looks a bit dry from the top, don't think it's retaining any water at all...
My biggest concern is damaging the spike and flowers if I take it out the pot??
Stay tuned, will try post some pics in the daylight and look forward to your comments.

[trancentrees]

So I've taken some pictures and had a closer look in the daylight...
After rummaging through the top bark, which looks very dry, there is definitely still active root growth, with green solid looking roots. I think it needs a bigger pot, so my question remains, can i repot it without hurting the shoots and flowers, and how on earth do I do it?

[Island Girl]

This is a great tutorial that shows you pictures as well, on how to repot (see link at the bottom). Take pictures of the roots when you get it out, and get the media off, so we can see too! That will also help us to help you. I'm thinking it probably needs more water... But seeing the roots will help me confirm that! usually, most ppl water by pouring lots of water thru the pot, and letting it drain well, before placing it back in its decorative pot. Depending on your environment, will determine how often to water it. If the top of the media gets really dry, before the media in the middle, and in the bottom of the pot does, you can mist the top of the roots/bark every so often. (although, when watering thoroughly in this way, you probably won't need to mist it daily). Also, when Phals roots are silvery in color, they are dry, when wet, they turn green. Do a search on the "skewer method" so you will know when to water, and be sure to pick up the pot, and feel its weight, right after you water, and also again when the bark is completely dry... Knowing when to water by judging the weight of the pot, is a good way as well.

to the OB! As HighSeas said, this is a great place to learn, and we hope you will stick around with us! Just beware that orchids can get quite addicting! But, we all love them, and don't mind if we are all addicts to this great, and interesting hobby!

Here's the repotting link: Oh, and Phals are resilient, they usually do not mind at all if you repot while in bloom... They usually keep their flowers just fine!
Orchid Repotting Clinic - Phalaenopsis

Wanted to add: When you repot, I'd suggest using bark again, and with new bark, it is often very dry, so it helps if you soak it for a day, or two, that way it opens the pores up, so that it holds water better... Even then, at first, new bark dries faster than older bark, so you may find the need to water more frequently... When it gets older (maybe in a month or so) you will need to water less frequently.

..sorry for the novel

[RandomGemini]

Just wanted to add, if you can pour some boiling water over that bark to start the soaking process, that would be very helpful! I've found that with the bark mix I use, just soaking it for a day or two isn't enough, it needs that addition of hot water to get it to open up and hold moisture.

[trancentrees]

I'm going to give it a go! I repotted my first ever phal last week which was on the brink of death. I had the tip of pre soaking the bark, with boiling water, and I had to cut it's stems off, it was all a bit experimental to be honest...
But one week on and it is recovering beautifully so am a bit more confident in trying to repot this one!
Thanks for the novel, I need all the help I can get, I too have realised a very addictive hobby developing...
but look forward to expanding on my collection!
I'm glad the phals are as resilient as they are...it's a great place to start and learn!
I tend to mist spray most mornings as the top bark does seem to dry out very quickly, but suspect the fear of over watering has lead me to under watering! I will attempt to have a look what's going on inside the pot and go from there... fingers crossed!

[Island Girl]

They can recover a lot easier from underwatering, than they can if they were overwatered! So, that's the better of the two! Good Luck!

I thought about mentioning the boiling water... Then got a little distracted Thanks Gemini! Glad you said that!