I repotted my Phalaenopsis but she doesn't look happy!! - Orchid Board

MoniCattleya · #1 08-18-2016, 06:26 PM

Hey Guys.

I reppoted my phalaenopsis by the end of June. She was in an smaller pot and she was doing fine, blooming like twice a year. The medium was moss. Well I bought a new medium Schultz Orquid Mix, that is like a brown bark, dry and hard... I pre soak it like the bag recommends. The new pot is bigger than the older one and has holes on it... it is one of those special for orquids. I didn't buried the aerial roots just the roots that were already in the moss. Same spot in the house, same watering times.

Well... the leaves feel soggy... not hard like they used to, she lost one leave and the other ones feel soft too.

I don't know what to do... it is the first time I reppot my baby... I shouldn't... she was happy in the smaller pot

.

Should I buy moss and change that ugly bark? It really looked a kind of harsh for my orquid but I trusted the brand... my ignorance... my fault... Is it bad for the plant to reppot it again? Should I change it back to the smaller container? Is she going to die?

Thank you in advance for your time.

Bye, Monica.

rbarata · #2 08-18-2016, 06:59 PM

Different mediums require different waterings.
How was your watering regimen initially?

Liliana · #3 08-18-2016, 06:59 PM

Hi Mónica! I feel you! I'm very new to orchids and have made some bad mistakes but from the different info that I've heard, this would be logical to happen since your phal was used to the moss, and any drastic chance in media causes a shock to the plant. I would've mixed it somehow, bark and moss.
On the other hand, o don't think you can have same watering times and amounts since the moss holds up moisture a lot more and for much longer. The bark dries up a lot faster and from what I understand it is even harder for new bark to hold moisture.
I would give it a good long soak for may be 30 min? In the same conditions you have it. She's probably lacking some of the extra moisture you provided before. Hope some experts can help you with this. Hope she gets better

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MoniCattleya · #4 08-18-2016, 07:09 PM

Thank you for your super fast answers. I was watering once a week like two cups... I know orquids don't like that much water... Should I give her more?

Should I change her to just moss again? I kind of hate this bark...

Thank you again.

rbarata · #5 08-18-2016, 07:12 PM

Liliana is right in her advice.
Anyway, a litle bit more information would be useful to give you a more accurate information. Watering regimen is determined not only by the medium, but also by the temp, the relative humidity, the plant requirements, etc.
In general, like Liliana said, I would increase the waterings.

Liliana · #6 08-18-2016, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbarata

Liliana is right in her advice.

Anyway, a litle bit more information would be useful to give you a more accurate information. Watering regimen is determined not only by the medium, but also by the temp, the relative humidity, the plant requirements, etc.

In general, like Liliana said, I would increase the waterings.

Ah! I'm very glad to read that! 😃 Thanx for confirming my reasoning. Glad I've leaned lol.

Monica I would not measure the water. Just watch the color of the roots after watering it throughly. Just let it drain.

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Lady Oscar · #7 08-19-2016, 01:30 PM

One thing I have found really helpful was the advice I got here to use a bamboo skewer to tell when the media is dry and it's time to water again. There's a sticky thread about it at the top of the "Beginner Discussion" forum.

bil · #8 08-19-2016, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoniCattleya

Thank you for your super fast answers. I was watering once a week like two cups... I know orquids don't like that much water... Should I give her more?

Should I change her to just moss again? I kind of hate this bark...

Thank you again.

Keeping them in moss is hard work. Leave the medium wet too long and the roots die.
My phals get about 1/2 a litre each by spray, but then they are in big pots, coarse bark only.

My advice would be, leave it as it is and water frequently. Phals go soft sometimes, I suspect it's from shock. One here got a bit chilled in the spring cold rains, and its neighbour was pulled over by the weight of blooms. Both went soft, but both are recovering. I just ignore them as I suspect that further disturbance like in your case re re potting might finish them off.

Dollythehun · #9 08-19-2016, 06:12 PM

Monica,
I am just a bit more than a beginner myself but, I have had Phals for many, many, years now. This is my method: I pot them all in bark (soaking it well first). I also soak the pot if it is clay. I water well to flush the fine bark particles, then I put the plant on the shelf and loosely "tent" it with a clear vegetable bag with holes poked in. This gives it more humidity while it roots in. I water by soaking my orchids in filtered water for 5 minutes (or whenever I get back to them). I drain them well and they go back on the shelf. I notice how heavy they are at that point and I water when they feel "light." I also know when the humidity drops below 50% it is probably time to water too. Since they are in bark,I have never worried about over-watering. I think the important thing is finding a method that works for you and sticking to it unless, of course, it is not working.
carol