Mouldy soil on my new mini orchid?

[1Lana84]

Hi all, this is my very first orchid and I’m a total novice so I apologise if this is completely normal and nothing to worry about but I have no idea! I got this mini orchid last week and I still haven’t watered it yet as it seemed ok and roots certainly healthy (see pictures) but the top of the soil seems to have gone mouldy already. Not sure wether to still water it or do I just need to re pot it, and if I do what type of pot of soil should I use? Any advice welcome! Thanks in advance, Lana

[Roberta]

First, Welcome!

That moldy stuff could be a slug bait (iron phosphate based like Sluggo), which looks like that after awhile when wet. Not harmful, but ugly. My suggestion would be to repot. Small or medium orchid bark would be my choice of medium because it drains well and and has lots of air space (so hard to overwater, in fact you need to water more often which is good) or sphagnum if you can't water as often since it stays wetter. Never soil.

Do check out this sticky thread for lots of good information to keep your Phal happy. The Phal abuse ends here. - Orchid Board - Most Complete Orchid Forum on the web !