Paph Pinocchio - Energizer Bunny. Repot?

[Carpe Diem]

Paph. Pinoccio just keeps going, much to my amazement and joy.
Now the question is, when do I repot?! Last year it was in bloom and I didn't repot, this year it is still in bloom and I didn't repot. From what I've read, Paphs should be, and like to be, repotted annually. I'm afraid to repot and upset the Bunny, when it is doing so great. It has a second fan and the plant looks good. Should I skip the repot again? Could someone please advise me on that? Thanks in advance!

[RosieC]

If it's wasn't repotted last year then I would repot.

I've had some paphs, including a Pinoccio which I didn't repot for several years and I regretted it when they suddenly started deteriorating. I put it down to soured medium at least in part, and really wish I had repotted as I lost Pinoccio and a couple of others.

Of course it depends somewhat on what your medium is, some last longer than others. However if you've already delayed it once then I would do it this year.

---------- Post added at 11:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:46 AM ----------

By the way, I've moved this to the Potting/repotting section so hopefully more knowledgeable people in this area will be able to answer as well.

[WhiteRabbit]

Cute!

I added "Paph Pinocchio", and "Repot?" to the thread title, to hopefully help you get replies!

[tucker85]

I have the same problem. My Pinocchio has been blooming for over a year and now I have a new spike just starting from another fan. I've never had two flower spikes at the same time so I hate to repot now, but I don't want to lose the plant either. I'm not sure what I'll do. By the way, your Pinocchio has much nicer colors than mine does. Good luck.

[Carpe Diem]

Thank you Sonya!

---------- Post added at 10:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:37 PM ----------

Yeah tucker85, what are we going to do? Mine is in Paph. medium from repotme.com and I feel like I should repot. Terrific, you're going to have a second spike, that will be quite a show! I have the same problem with my Psychopsis Mendenhall 'Hildos', that one has been in spike/bloom forever and is getting a new pbulb.
I'll wait until next week, maybe over the weekend a Paph. grower will respond and assure me, that I will not lose bloom/buds due to repot. Keeping my fingers crossed for both of us.

[quiltergal]

I had a Pinocchio for quite a while. As you say it was always in bloom. I finally repotted while it was in flower and made sure I was very gentle with the roots. It didn't even notice. Just kept on blooming.

[RandomGemini]

Very pretty. Love the colors on this one.

I would go ahead and repot, because I think the risk of losing the plant is much worse than the risk of losing a bloom. I'd rather lose a flower and have to wait another six months to a year to see a flower again, than lose a plant.

[tucker85]

Originally Posted by quiltergal

I had a Pinocchio for quite a while. As you say it was always in bloom. I finally repotted while it was in flower and made sure I was very gentle with the roots. It didn't even notice. Just kept on blooming.

Thanks for sharing your experience. That's good information to know. I think that's what I'll do but I'm going to wait until my second spike blooms once because I've never had two flower spikes at the same time.

[jeremyinsf]

I have re-potted probably 15 sequential bloomers that are in spike, and never, ever had a problem. There can be a short 'pause' in flower development but I've not had a healthy spike abort. As long as the plant you are working with is healthy, it should be fine.

One thing to consider though is that they usually like to be kept moist, and new media can be on the dry side. So, this is probably not a plant you want to re-pot, and then let it sit for a long time for the roots to acclimate. If they dry out too much, it will make for a cranky plant. You also don't want to over-water, either.

[Ray]

In my experience, paphs don't seem to care when you repot them - even moving them into S/H is no problem dormant, in active growth, in-bud, or in-bloom.