Repotting a Phal from Wal-Mart

[tarev]

I think there might be some issues with chemicals in some wood chips..so I just get the bagged orchid bark mix. Pretty sure walmart has them too.

[fredi*frogi]

tarev, shouldn't be any chemicals in my wood chips. we cut and load and stack our own wood (it's a lot of work, but better then $1500 per month gas bills!), so it's all natural as far as I know. Of course there could be chemicals from farming that drifted, I suppose...

Probly better just stick to some commercial bought potting medium..

[RandomGemini]

It's not what gets sprayed on the wood. It's what's in it. You need to avoid using pine because there are chemicals in pine wood that kill orchid roots. You would really only be safe with fruit woods, IMO.

[kindrag23]

To sterilize my tools I heat them with an aim and flame to kill everything possible off. I like the better gro mix for phals for phal's it works great.

[fredi*frogi]

We don't burn pine in the stove, too much resin, makes cleaning it a big pain in the tushy!

I'm going to check the only local store I have (Walmart, lol) and then if I can't find anything sutible, i'm going with something from repotme.com!

I do have another question, we're currently in an unseasonalbe cold spell. House temps are around 60°F right now, should I wait until it warms up to repot, or can I go ahead and do it now?

[RandomGemini]

I'd wait until you see new root growth unless you believe something is wrong with the roots. Once you see new roots, then repot.

[fredi*frogi]

random, most of the air roots on top are black/brown/rotting so something needs to be quickly.

I didn't know...well anything, lol, until a few days ago! So, learning as I go, but I do know that dead air roots are not a good sign...

[tarev]

I will do it..you are indoors anyways.

Editing to add: I would do the repot in the morning, so that when you water, by night time, much of the water has drained out. Just water the root zone for now..nothing on the leaves.

[fredi*frogi]

That is if I can find some repotting medium tonite, they'll get repotted in the morning.

If I can't by the time the stuff is shipped to me we should be back at our normal temps (high 70's) for this time of year!

We have a freeze warning for tonite! That means I have to drag all of my outside plants back in! UGH!

[tarev]

Aww freeze warning..what a bummer... I hate that too when it happens..the crankiness of Mother Nature..and here in our area, we just endured this week long heat wave hitting 102F yesterday at its peak..thankfully we are getting a cool down now..