I hear ya on the mealies! I had a major infestation (brought in on some ferns) about 7-8 years ago and it was a major PITA. Once they get a hold...they are hard to eradicate w/out going big guns. The soap helps with a lot of those little nasties. It's not fool proof but is sure helps.

I'm in the repot everything group. I want to see what the roots looks like so I know what I'm dealing with. I don't pay attention to growing seasons, I repot and treat them the say way I do when my plants aren't in the growing season which is usually less water.

I also give a bath to every plant that comes to me but I use a very soft toothbrush with soap to clean every piece of green on the plant. I spray the plant with water, scrub and then rinse the soap off.

I also spray each plant with insecticide before it ever meets any of my plants. I want to kill any hitchhikers that are too small to see.

Brooke

When I buy from vendors other than Norman's.
Just kidding.

I hardly ever repot newly purchased orchids unless the mix looks very old.
I don't like to repot in general. lazy. lol

When do you NOT repot a new acquisition?
 

I have been buying mounted plants, so those plants do not get re-mounted. I collect Neofinetia. They usually come in fresh sphagnum moss, so no need to re-pot those plants. I'm with NYCorchidman--I repot when it looks like the media my new plant arrives in is decayed--a rare event as the vendors I buy plants from are very reliable. I also quarantine my plants when they arrive--for about a month. They are isolated from other plants and I study them to see how they are adapting to my environment.

Otherwise, like NYC, i plead laziness! My re-potting behavior works for me--I have not lost a new plant--yet.