Keeping my very first few phals alive

[Shyulace]

Hey everyone! I've been reading through several websites and forums for the last few days to get a decent understanding of the needs of orchids and Phals in specific. I took a liking to this particular forum for the friendly and knowledgeable members and decided to make my first post here (Woo!).

I have two situations that I seek advice for. I think I know what I should do but a second set of opinions would be very welcome. I also want to apologize if this gets long winded :P

First: (This is before any research was done on orchids) It was the weekend before Valentines day and I stumbled upon a few stores in the city selling mostly orchids. I picked out a nice looking purple orchid with two branches emerging from the spike for my girlfriend.
They moved it from a standard 6" pot (I'm generalizing on the size) into a SOLID GLASS vase/pot (Dimensions: 12"D, 4-5"H). I was semi worried about the drainage but I didn't make a huff about it at the time. For the medium they put about 1" of bark on the bottom and packed some green moss everywhere else around the orchid roots (not sure how loosely though). It looked really nice and gave it to my girlfriend.

However, seeing that we both like orchids, we do not want it to die. I now know that, drainage/aeration are really important, and worried that because its a solid glass vase, its probably getting very little air and I'm now somewhat concerned with root rot. In addition, the pot apparently is too large.
My question is that, must it be moved asap into a different potting medium and pot? Or can I wait until the bloom finishes and repot it.
(I unfortunately do not have any pictures handy)

Second: Since I guess the sensation of growing orchids are addicting (haha duh look where I am posting), I wanted one of my own. As I was passing by my local homedepot for other supplies I saw they were selling other orchids alot cheaper than what I got for my GF. I grabbed one happily and brought it home.
To my surprise, in my oblivious haste I grabbed a pot with two Phals in it. When I checked the pot (probably 6"), it seemed very full, with several semi dried aerial roots hanging on the side.
I was wondering if I should separate them immediately, or wait until their bloom finishes. I'm pretty sure I will destroy several roots in the process of separating thus ending the flowering spike. But seeing how uncomfortably tight these are in the pot, I wasn't sure if it would die in there.

Any input is welcome, and sorry for the long read haha.
P.S.- I'm not sure what kind of Phalaenopsis they are. They were labeled as hybrids.

[Orchid126]

My advice would be to get it out of the glass pot immediately. Being in a pot without air for the roots can mean sudden death. The new pot should just accommodate the roots and perhaps a bit more. Not only do orchids bloom better in tight pots, the extra medium that the roots don't utilize will stay too wet and rot the roots.

The medium that you choose will depend on your watering habits. The more absorbant the medium is (like moss) the less often you need to water. Phals like to be watered and then be allowed to get just damp before being watered again. If you like to water weekly, than perhaps bark would be more suitable, or a mix of bark and moss.

Phals, of all orchids, don't seem to mind being repotted when in bloom. You may consider waiting to divide the plant with two phals until spring, when the plants go into their growing season and start growing like mad.

Welcome to the world of orchids!

[Shyulace]

Thanks so much for your speedy reply. I'll repot it as soon as i can.
I had a suspicion that the glass pot would be bad. I didn't think that it could mean "sudden death" though.

[BobInBonita]

Welcome to OB!

I agree completely with the comments above about repotting and medium. You have to choose what will work for you and your conditions. Most people have luck with bark, but some do better with sphag.

I would consider letting the pot with two orchids be. It can be a very nice look when they are both in bloom.

With the orchids from big box stores in particular, you have to be careful about the medium they are in. They frequently are over-packed in very tight sphagnum, and unless it was a very fresh delivery might already have rot starting.

THere's all sorts of info and even some videos on the site about repotting.

Best of luck and keep us posted on your progress.

[merkity]

sound like me - I recently got some orchids, i have never tried growing them before - then i started researching and realized the first one i bought was not exactly in the best of health. Its only been a few weeks, and its hanging in there - can't say its a completely happy camper yet, but lights are coming....

[scy]

I agree that you should repot the phal in the glass vase. However, I strongly suggest you unpot the one from Home Depot to take a look at the roots. I received a dendrobium from Lowes that was potted in tight sphagnum moss and it turned out the roots were rotting underneath.

[Shyulace]

Thanks scy, as I continued to read horror stories about phals from HD or Lowes i just took it out of my pot today to take a look at it.
Surprisingly there weren't many dead roots, there were some along the perimeter of the inner pot, but I wasn't able to take apart the root ball yet..
The thing is I just watered it the other day because it seemed very dry and I think it might be retaining a bit too much water in the sphag (I'm pretty sure in the middle of the root ball as well). I removed some sphag from the areas that were easier to access and was over packed. I put some back in loosely (Although I'm not sure if it was TOO lose). Semi small airy areas where its loose. I also cut holes into the plastic pot to help with the aerating, although I can see some roots now through the holes I just cut. Hopefully the visible roots wont dry out because of it.

Hopefully this should keep me going until Friday when my pint of Superthrive arrives and my bark chips are done soaking in water. I feel like repotting it to be safe. Better to lose a bloom then the whole plant eh. The damage shouldn't be too detrimental in two days right?

As for the glass pot, I told my GF to take it out of it, and low and behold she said half were mushy and rotted. She cut them off and i told her to put it in a plastic pot with some loose sphag until i can come over and hopefully set things straight. I'm hoping i can save this one too because its the first one i bought (and i think i overpaid for it too haha. but Valentines day, go figure)

Many thanks for yall patience