Should I re-pot? - Orchid Board

Gregr · #1 05-01-2021, 06:41 PM

Hi all,
I'm so glad I found this forum.
A week ago I got 2 phals- one is white with about 5 flowers and 4 unopened buds on each of 2 stalks. It's in a 4" plastic cup. The other one is in a 5" cup and is quite tall with 6 purple flowers on each of the 2 stalks. They appear to be in excellent heath but the have 100% moss for soil so after 5 days the soil is still wet.
After going thru the first dozen pages of the beginner thread I'm pretty sure the answer is yes-- re-pot right away but I would like a confirmation so I don't make another noob mistake.
Thanks!

SouthPark · #2 05-01-2021, 07:10 PM

Hi there. These phals were already with the 100% moss (assuming sphagnum moss) - right?

If that is true, and if assuming that those phals had been growing in that moss for a long time already - before you bought them, then it will indicate that those phals can indeed be grown in moss - provided suitable conditions are maintain - temperature, moisture level in the moss, and around the roots etc.

Media still being wet may be ok for roots that are adapted to the wet conditions. But - if there is uncertainty about whether the conditions right now might be significantly different from the ones that the orchid was previously accustomed to ------ then a repot might be a good idea. That's if you notice that the media is wetter than what you think that the plant can handle.

That's one of the issues with transferring of orchids from one owner to a different one ---- without the transfer of the information regarding growing conditions - including watering schedule and method (along with other information about growing conditions).

Gregr · #3 05-01-2021, 07:32 PM

Thank you for this info.
I have much to learn... I was 99% sure the right thing to do was repot. Both appear healthy to me- the flowers are nearly perfect and the leaves are medium green, not at all dark. I can visit the vendor next week and ask the pertinent questions. I'm going to try to add a photo of the roots on the smaller pot. Again-- thanks!

---------- Post added at 04:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:21 PM ----------

https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/6e8...=w:1160,h:1160

Roberta · #4 05-01-2021, 08:34 PM

Phals generally don't have a problem repotting them while in bloom...just handle carefully so that you don't knock the flowers around. Looking at the photo, definitely candidate for repotting. Those soft plastic pots typically just have one hole in the bottom, don't drain very well. So choose a pot with good drainage. ( If you don't have one handy, no harm in waiting until you can get some) As far as choice of medium goes, it depends on your situation... sphagnum tends to stay wet (so useful if you want to go longer between waterings), personally I prefer small/medium bark because it drains better, and is harder to overwater - but then you have to water more frequently. The goal is to have "humid air" rather than "wet" around the roots. Whatever the medium, when you water, water thoroughly - so that it flows through the pot. That flushes "crud", excess fertilizer salts, and also pulls air through the medium. As it evaporates, water gets replaced with air, which is what you want. A good way to decide how often it needs watering, consider weighing it on a postal scale or kitchen scale after you've watered it and let it drain. Weigh again the next day... when the rate of weight loss starts to level off (indicating that there's not much moisture to lose), it's time. Do this a few times and you'll have a good feel for what it needs.

Also... when repotting, don't worry if you can't get all the old moss off... take what comes easily, but it's much better to leave a bit of old medium than to trash roots. It looks like you have some great roots. But if, when you get it out of the pot, you find some rotted, you can remove the rotted velamin (the outer coating of roots) but leave the "core" - which can still hydrate the plant, and also serves to stabilize it in its new pot. (It is very important that it be held firmly in place, if it wobbles new roots can't establish well)

Gregr · #5 05-01-2021, 09:49 PM

Thank you!
The weighing trick is great- I'm going to use that. I'm going to get some new pots, with holes, and do a gentle repotting too. I really appreciate the tips.

estación seca · #6 05-01-2021, 11:12 PM

Moss is great for Phals if you learn how to water properly. Never soak the moss. Run water lightly over the top for 1-2 seconds. It will diffuse through the moss, leaving it barely moist, yet well-aerated. Water again when the moss is crisp dry on top.

For now you could take the root ball out of the pot and put it someplace breezy to dry faster.

Roberta · #7 05-01-2021, 11:40 PM

A problem with light watering, though, is that over time salts can build up. And if the moss dries completely, it can be really hard to re-wet. When I do use it, I pack it lightly, so it really does stay very airy even when quite wet. But the fact that it IS a bit tricky to get right, is a reason that I really do prefer bark - if the bark isn't too small and the pot is well drained, it's almost impossible to over-water. (Disclosure... I tend to be a rather heavy-handed water-er, so I pot accordingly. Too many plants to give a lot of individual attention, everybody gets a good bath, the media and containers are chosen to give the desired effect for each one.)

Gregr · #8 05-02-2021, 12:22 AM

Ok I got that- thank you. I'll try to replace the moss with bark and leave moss til I have some experience under my belt. I don't mind the trade-off of having to water more often.

Gregr · #9 05-07-2021, 01:30 PM

Update to my repotting situation: I went back to the vendor and asked how often they water and how long the orchids had been in that moss. 7-10 days for watering and "a long time" for the ladder question. She didn't speak very much English but I got her point. Since these orchids are used to the moss and light watering schedule I decided to put off repotting (she said wait about one year) for now.
In the mean time, because I have no self control

I got another mini:

I also got a large non-stick cookie tray and a plastic grid to cover it-- the idea being to increase the humidity a little by leaving a small amount of water in the tray. The humidity in that room is about 35%.

Phalaenoptics · #10 05-07-2021, 01:55 PM

Wow that new mini is so beautiful! I love the colors!

I personally would also repot but I think with such things, only time can tell. I'm with Roberta on the chunky bark media and thorough watering method, but if you can make the moss work for your home environment, that's great. A year seems a long time in those soft plastic pots but I've never done it myself, so I wouldn't know!

Keep an eye on the roots/overall plant health and if they get worse then you have your answer.