Phalaenopsis and Denbrodium Nobile repotting and after care

[Pakmanwong]

Hi everyone. Bought a Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium nobile for about two weeks. Would love to repot the Phalaenopsis asap and repot the Dendrobium nobile once the flowers fade.

I am new to growing orchids, any suggestion on how to repot them (media and time etc.), and how to take care of them after done repotting (watering, fertilizers, light etc.).

Thank you in advance!

[jkofferdahl]

I don't want to speak to the Dendrobium but hopefully I can help with your Phal. You don't say how it's now potted, but my guess is that since you just bought it the plant is potted in sphagnum and a clear plastic pot. If so, repot it last week!

I can't recommend a pot size because I don't know the size of your plant but most likely it'll want one a bit larger than it's in now. I prefer unglazed terra cotta pots, and the azalea-pot shape is preferable to a deeper pot. I prefer large-chunk orchid bark, and soak it overnight before using. Once you've unpotted the plant, remove as much of the old media as possible. If some sticks to the roots it'll come off later. I like to then soak the roots for 15-20 minutes (and this is the ONLY time I'll speak positively of the activity of soaking), which softens them up. Once soaked, the last of whatever old media was there should easily come off. Trim away any dead roots using a clean clipper that's never been used on an orchid (or has been sterilized). I like to build a small mound of bark at the bottom center of the pot to work the roots over, but what matters is that you carefully work the roots into the pot and then the bark in and among the roots. When you finish packing (very gently) the bark into and around the roots, the plant should be very secure and with no wobble. The large chunks of bark will still allow good air movement to the roots, as will using the shallower pot.

After repotting, I like to put a Phal in a slightly lower light spot for a few days while it settles. I also don't water it until the media is very thoroughly dry. Once it's been watered I return it to it's original location. I'm of the "fertilize weekly, weakly" school, and don't use any fertilizer until the Phal has produced two or three new roots to about half an inch long.

Light-wise, Phals like relatively low light, though they can adjust to a slightly higher level. An East or West window should be ideal, or a South facing with mid-day shading. Between waterings allow the media to dry completely. You can stick a wood cooking skewer into the pot and leave it for 10 minutes, and if when you remove it you can detect any moisture on the skewer then let the plant wait on watering. Fertilizing "weekly, weakly" means you mix at about 20-25% of the label direction strength and use it at pretty much every watering. Occasionally, though, flood the pot with plain water, which will rinse out any minerals which can build up in the pot.

If you really want to learn about fertilizing orchids, go here to First Ray's (Ray also is a frequent poster here), where you can read enough about it to essentially earn a college degree in orchid fertilization.

[Pakmanwong]

Thanks Jkofferdahl! Thank you for responding! I am attaching a few photos of the phal I bought (first two) for you to see, I will repot it once the new pot arrives. And I've just repotted a phal which I brought home from work yesterday (photo 3-5)... not sure if I did it right... no wobbling though... does the location where I am placing it seem okay to you?

[bil]

jkofferdahl has basically given you the full knobs and whistles version for phals.

By comparison, I rip them out of the pot, throw them in a wide shallow pot, don't even look at the roots, slop dry large bark on, and snarl "Grow you s.o.b. or it's compost time!"

Anyway, den nobile. Simply do the same but with fine bark (always sieve bark to remove the small stuff and dust) and really keep the pot shallow. Width is irrelevant, but you shouldn't go deeper than 4".

I like my dens on mounts, but nobiles grow so tall it isn't practicable. So, mine are moving onto these which will keep them upright while allowing the roots to sit in a saucer of moss that can dry out really fast.

[Pakmanwong]

Hi Bil! Thanks for responding! I have a few pictures of my Dendrobium. Can you take a look at them? Do you think I need to repot it? Thanks!

[Dollythehun]

Be sure to open the curtains. Which way does that window face?

[Pakmanwong]

Hi Dolly. I usually put my Dendrobium on the windowsill in my room with no curtains, and my room has a south facing window.

[Dollythehun]

Might be too sunny for them. Sheer curtain would diffuse the sun.

[Roberta]

Not a clear picture of the potting mix for the Dendrobium, but from what I can see, it looks quite wet. I find that almost everything I buy needs repotting... Nobody pays the vendor for potting, so when the plant blooms, it gets sold, and the buyer then has the responsibility. You can wait until after the blooms drop if you want, although it doesn't really matter.

[D_novice]

Originally Posted by jkofferdahl

If you really want to learn about fertilizing orchids, go here to First Ray's (Ray also is a frequent poster here), where you can read enough about it to essentially earn a college degree in orchid fertilization.

EVERYONE else says water first, then fertilize. Everyone! That's what I thought, anyway. I usually water once then wait, to let the media get wet; then water a second time, pouring water through the pot; then and only then fertilize. The idea is that the salts shock the roots. Pretty amazing that Ray's advice is the diametric opposite of that.

Here is one modest version of the usual advice: "Prior to fertilization, the plants are watered generously with regular water to flush accumulated salts from the potting media and to pre-wet the plant roots. The fertilizer mixture is then applied a few minutes later."
Austin Creek Orchids - Orchid Culture

Maybe the plants I succeed with like it this way, and the ones that don't like me would prefer to be fertilized first!