| Your question as to which potting medium is best emphasizes a key point for beginners.
Orchids will grow in just about anything. What is best is whatever works for your growing conditions.
Many commercial growers like myself like sphagnum since it stays wet longer. Many hobbyist do not like it since they water too often and the water retention can lead to rot.
Bark needs to be watered more often that sphagnum. Your watering habits obviously tend toward being drier and the Phal likes the moss.
Once you are satisified with what medium works best for you, you can convert all your plants to the same method.
Re-potting a Phal is easy. Soak the plant for 10-15 minutes. Squeeze the plastic pot to lossen it and gently lift the orchid out of the pot. Most of the bark should fall off and running water over the roots should remove most of what is left. It is not important to get it all.
Be careful since the roots can crack easily. Pre-soaking softened the roots and makes it easier with which to work. Soak some new sphagnum and gently work it into the center of the roots. You do not want to have air pockets and you do not wanat to force teh roots to a new position. Put more around the outside and return it to the same pot. Be very slow to use larger pots. Always use the smallest pot that holds the roots comforably.
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jerry  |