To repot, or not to repot? (Phal)

[lauren.r]

Hi everyone

I've had this orchid a long time and I realise it needs repotting, but I'm not sure whether I'm best waiting until the flowers drop off or not. How quickly can root rot develop? If I leave the plant as it is, do I risk this, or will it most likely be okay until it stops flowering? If a plant does develop rot, can the rot spread, or if you chop off the damaged roots will it usually recover? At the moment the aerial roots are very dry, but the roots in the pot take a really long time to dry out.

Any advice at all would be very greatly appreciated!

[RandomGemini]

I've repotted several phals while they were in bloom. I've had one that dropped a couple of flowers, but that was the worst thing that happened.

My vote? Go ahead and repot it. Give it a good watering, let it soak for about 15 minutes, then remove it from the current pot. Cut off any brown, mushy roots with a sterile cutting tool of some kind (I just douse my cutting tools in alcohol and allow to air dry before use) and then when you're finished cutting, dab some cinnamon on any cut roots and give the plant a day or so to rest before you slap it into a new pot with some new bark.

Do be sure to prepare your new bark first. I have found the best way to do this, is to pour the amount of bark you need into a bowl or a bucket, and pour boiling water on the bark straight from your tea kettle then allow it to soak overnight. Brand new bark doesn't hold water very well, but after doing this, it retains moisture better.

[SlipperGirl]

Originally Posted by RandomGemini

I've repotted several phals while they were in bloom. I've had one that dropped a couple of flowers, but that was the worst thing that happened.

My vote? Go ahead and repot it. Give it a good watering, let it soak for about 15 minutes, then remove it from the current pot. Cut off any brown, mushy roots with a sterile cutting tool of some kind (I just douse my cutting tools in alcohol and allow to air dry before use) and then when you're finished cutting, dab some cinnamon on any cut roots and give the plant a day or so to rest before you slap it into a new pot with some new bark.

Do be sure to prepare your new bark first. I have found the best way to do this, is to pour the amount of bark you need into a bowl or a bucket, and pour boiling water on the bark straight from your tea kettle then allow it to soak overnight. Brand new bark doesn't hold water very well, but after doing this, it retains moisture better.

I agree but if you put cinnamon on the roots put very little or don't put any at all because it can dry the roots and kill them.

Very pretty flowers by the way

[kindrag23]

Good heaven these are pretty flowers! I agree w all statements above. Especially about the cinnamon to be easy because it can get on healthy roots and dessicate them.

Also I have repotted several in blokm and nothing happened other than older blooms that dropped a day or 2 early.

[dounoharm]

when I repot phals, I use the biggest hardest bark I can find, no powdery or soft stuff! you can mix it with some charcoal and perlite chunks. wet it the day before and let it drain before you use it. after repotting, settle the bark around the roots by shaking and tapping the pot. phals don't like as hard a potting as cattleyas. you can use a stick to push the bark around the roots, but don't tamp down the bark hard. I would not water at all after potting for two weeks. that gives any injured roots time to heal up and keeps bacteria out of cut portions. i do not use cinnamon on roots at all. good luck!

[Troythediver]

I waited on my phals to be done flowering...unfortunately they flowered for months, and then I was greeted with very few decent roots which meant for a long recovery period. I hate repotting because for some reason it makes me anxious that I might kill the plant; however, I am learning that waiting to repot has never put me in a good spot. From now on I will repot phals as soon as I get them home.

[Leafmite]

I just repot phals while in bloom. They never seem to care.

[james mickelso]

When using cinnamon on cut roots, just dab it on the cut end. Not the whole root. The cinnamon cauterizes the wound. Don't water for a day or two to let the cinnamon do it's work. Watering will wash it off the root end.

[Carpe Diem]

I always repot Phals. when I bring them home and they've never missed a beat.

[EricaMarie]

Nothing to add on the repotting. Everyone up top has good info. But lovely flowers!!! Very pretty.