Hi! My name is Marjorie-I'm glad to be here.

[mpowers]

I'm looking forward to learning a lot about Phalaenopsis orchids; and also to getting to know all of you and about your experiences with your orchids.

Two weeks ago I saw my first non-"pin on your dress"-orchids at Shoprite no less. I was enthralled! They were so beautiful. I came home with three of them- different colors and different sizes. I immediately felt like a very nervous new parent who'd not taken any parenting classes. I began searching the internet. At first this was, I thought, enlightening. Unfortunately I soon discovered that there were quite a few contradictory methods being taught by various experts in the field.

GULP! What to do. By this time I was talking to my orchids, playing music to them, and generally besotted. So.o..o I went back to Shoprite and got three more - different and more beautiful orchids ( but don't tell my first three, please)

I''ve got quite a few questions. I'll start with just one. Can I repot orchids while they are blooming? (These orchids are in ceramic pots, which, I've read can kill them, are in very dense, tightly packed soil, and look like they're root bound).

I'll stop here as I'm sure my post is already too long.

Thank you for reading this. I look forward to your response (s)

Marjorie and her six pack.

[dendro king]

Hey, welcome to orchid board!!

To answer your question, yes you can repot them but if they are not in desperate need of repotting I would leave them until they're done blooming

[terracotta7]

Hello! ...and welcome to OB! ShopRite has nice phals sometimes...I have some myself .

I would agree with above...wait on the repot until they are done blooming. In the meantime, there is a great thread somewhere here called "the phal abuse ends here" or something like that. It is a great thread for a "newbie" (and I mean that only in kindness!)

Hope to "see" you around the OB and in the meantime, enjoy your blooms!

[silken]

Welcome.

You can leave them till blooms are done. But I usually lift them from their pot and pull away a lot of the moss so that the roots also have some air pockets. You could then slip it into a plastic pot with some air holes. Make sure they are allowed to get very near dry before re-watering. Phals can bloom for so long that I always worry the roots will rot in that tight moss if I don't get some of it out.

[wintergirl]

Hi Marjorie, Welcome to Orchid Board! You can repot phals when in bloom (if you must) but you do take the chance of the blooms wilting. Phals are pretty hardy though and it really doesn't matter when you repot. Phals like to be tight in the pot, so they really don't get "root-bound". There are sections in her about repotting and phal care. You could just make sure you don't over water until the blooms are gone and then re-pot if you like. It's up to you.

[Leafmite]

Hello and welcome!
I agree with Silken. If I cannot re-pot an orchid right away and I am worried about the roots rotting, I pick away as much of the medium as possible so that the roots can breath.

[mpowers]

Hi Jack. I will take your advice. Thanks!

---------- Post added at 01:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:59 PM ----------

I don't know how to make responses to the individual posts to me.I tried but Leafmite got the post meant for Jack. So sorry.I'll do the responses in order.

Hello Terracotta7 - Thanks for your response. I tried to find "The abuse ends here with no success. I wanted
to use the search button;but each time I clicked on it to open my keyboard it closed again (Kindle HD). Yes, you will see me again. ;>)

Hello Silken - Thanks for your reply. Yes I will wait on repotting. As far as removing some of tWehe medium - there is none. It's all potting soil (I hope). I plan to put in appropriate medium when repotting. The holes in the sides for breathing is a great idea - Thanks.

Leafmite, Hi

Thanks for your input d got reply. I don't know if I can take any of the medium out as it's soil. Also I'm a Kierkegaard of trying to lift eggplant out of it's pot as it's o right-hand. I'm afraid the stems (spikes?) will break. They seem very delicate to me. Am I wrong in this belief?

Thanks again to all!

---------- Post added at 01:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:28 PM ----------

Sorry - that last response was written by my Kindle's editing program. Let's just say that a few unladylike phrases have been known to enter my mind due to this program.

Leaf mite - the first sentence should read -"and for your response". Second line is NOT Kierkegaard - it should be -"afraid". (Kierkegaard out of afraid ?!) of taking it out of it's pot because it's soil is packed so tightly.

[ula]

Hi and welcome to this wonderful Board!
I agree with Wintergirl. If you enjoy the bloom on your phals, then wait until it's over before repotting, and happy growing!

[silken]

I haven't seen too many Phals potted in soil. If they were mine, I would buy some clear pots with holes, some sphagnum moss and some medium bark, or a similar mix, and re-pot them. But that is what I would do and I am willing to risk spikes for the health of a plant. In nature Phals grow attached to trees in a rain forest with roots exposed to sun, rains and breezes. They don't grow in soil at the bottom of the canopy. When we pot them, using moss, bark and a variety of other media, we are just trying to make it handy for us to grow then in our homes while still keeping their roots happy. I would make sure the spike is supported in your hand and possibly with a stick and gently tip it out of the pot, or tip some of the dirt out so you can ease it out. Then rinse the roots off well, making sure not to leave a bunch of water in the crown, and repot in pre- soaked bark and sphagnum. Use a pot just large enough to accommodate the roots.

To answer individual people, just click the "quote" button, bottom right and their comment will appear with a space to type your own.

[WhiteRabbit]