repot during spike/flowering?

[Wrebbitrocks]

ok. just recieved two phalaenopsis orchids in full spike with a bunch of buds and open blooms . i want to repot them due to bad conditions but im worried for the spikes. will they get damaged if i repot?

[Blueszz]

Hello Wrebbittocks,
I just repotted a Phalaenopsis in buds (with open blooms). It was in tight sphagnum with around that a fine bark mix. I removed all of the sphagnum and replaced the bark. It didn't harm the buds and blooms.

What is wrong with your Phalaenopsis that you want to repot it while in bud? Picture?

[camille1585]

If you are in doubt about the health of the roots/plant, repot. Most blooming orchids seem to not mind the repotting. Several people on OB repot everything, blooms or not, as soon as they get it, and from what I remember they hardly ever have problems with the blooms after. I think it is better to be sure to save the plant and run the slight risk of losing buds, rather than let it bloom and risk losing the entire plant!

[BikerDoc5968]

For me a healthy plant is worth sacrificing any flowers or spikes. If the plant dies, Oh well no more flowers. If the plant remains happy and healthy, it will, in time, flower again. You can soak in Hormex, KLN or SuperThrive to help reduce some of the "shock" to the repotting.

[Royal]

Looks like you got your answer. Just try not to damage too many roots. Take your time, you'll be rewarded.

[Joansorchid]

Hi
I am fairly new here but have repotted all of my phals as I got them. They were all in flower with no harm done to them. Here is a picture of the latest one sent to me bare rooted in flower and now potted up three weeks on.
Joan xx

[Royal]

Nice one Joan. See, the OB is the best. Within 24 hrs we have 5 answers from 3 countries plus photographic evidence. I love this place.

[Singingirl96]

I too have repoted blooming phals. I don't usually have any problems with blooms dropping.
However, here is a piece of advice. If your phal is wrapped tightly in Sphagnum moss and kept very wet and you suddenly change it to bark, you must water it more often for a while. It has to slowly get used to being watered less frequently.
This happened to a friend of mine, and her leaves got all shriveled. I'm still trying to nurse it back to health.
Good luck.

[priz_m]

Originally Posted by Wrebbitrocks

ok. just recieved two phalaenopsis orchids in full spike with a bunch of buds and open blooms . i want to repot them due to bad conditions but im worried for the spikes. will they get damaged if i repot?

I had the same question once, and I waited and lost 1 of the 2 phals I needed to repot. I have every new orchid regardless of their blooms, phals tend to be very cooperative, so I think you'll be ok, but as Blueszz asks:

What is wrong with your Phalaenopsis that you want to repot it while in bud? Picture?

[mnoor]

Abt repotting, upto what level should the medium in the pot be? Must the medium be level as the height of the pot?