Emergency repotting of phal in full bloom. Please help!

[loreley]

I posted a thread maybe a month ago about my phal whose medium never seemed to dry out. Someone suggested that the problem could be that it was tightly packed in its pot with no room for air and with the water trapped in there. Well. that seems exactly to be the problem. I took a peek at the roots yesterday and a lot of them look mushy, not healthy and green. So I've decided to repot, even though the conventional wisdom seems to be not to repot while in bloom. But I fear that if I don't, the orchid could die of root rot. What do you think?
I have two clay pots with one drainage hole at the bottom and 4 slits cut along the sides of the pot. I have 2 others with multiple holes at the bottom but these pots are plastic and no slits on the sides. Which would be better? I intend to follow the wonderful instructions by brookn which have become something of a classic...

I would greatly appreciate your advice because I'm really scared of damaging the orchid.

Thank you ever so much!!

[syndywindy]

I always repot after getting a new orchid, doesn't matter if it's in bloom or not. At the risk of losing a couple flowers(altho I haven't had this problem), the overall health of your orchid comes first. I would take it out of it's pot, remove all the moss and check for bad roots. Anything, black and mushy cut away. Sprinkle the cut ends with cinnamon, it works as an antibacterial/fungacide. You can use either pot, make sure it's just big enough to fit the plant back in.Orchids need good air movement, so you need all those holes in the pot to drain excess water. If you are using a bark mixture, be sure to soak it at least 24 hours. If you have some Superthrive or rooting hormone, you can add this to the soak. After you have repotted, I would leave it for several days before watering again.

[orchidea]

Originally Posted by loreley

But I fear that if I don't, the orchid could die of root rot. What do you think?

I am so glad you feel this way, because most people will just dump the orchid after it's done flowering.....
It's leaves look good, so I think you can save the orchid. You might loose it's blooms this time (if there are not many good roots left there). There is a lot of stress on the plant to keep the flowers blooming, so I hope it still has few good roots left. You will know only after you take it out of the pot. I am almost sure it's in moss, just take all of it out....
Listen to synsywindy and many other nice people here. They will offer a lot of help. You can go to youtube.com and type "repotting orchid". You will get many short clips so you can see how it's done.....
Good luck!!!!!

[whalloper]

Repot it. I too was afraid to do this at first but I now realize I've saved plants. You may lose some blooms, but think of it this way...you may never see another one if u don't repot.

I'm just guessing it's in a Taiwanese "brick" of moss at the moment. What are u planning on repotting it in? You will probably be able to see clear indications as you pull away the moss that it was NEVER repotted. New moss is usually added around the old moss as the plant is "bumped" up a size.

If you chose to repot in moss, don't use nearly as much as they used. Get some Superthrive to encourage new root growth also. I use neem oil spray on the roots after I cut any...kinda like cinnamon. Pictures of how many good roots would help.

[mehitabel]

You've gotten good advice here. About the clay vs plastic pot -- both have lots of holes for air, I think either would be fine. Choose the one that best fits the roots.

And BTW, that's a lovely pink phal. I can see why you want to save it.

[orchidea]

Originally Posted by loreley

I have two clay pots with one drainage hole at the bottom and 4 slits cut along the sides of the pot. I have 2 others with multiple holes at the bottom but these pots are plastic and no slits on the sides. Which would be better?

Oh, I forgot to say something about the pots; I think it's important...
Personally, I would choose a plastic pot simply because you can see orchid's roots trough the pot (I hope yours is the one you can see trough not the green one). You can always cut some extra holes on the sides of the pot as it's plastic. I even got a little bit artistic with the pots and cut some interesting holes in them..... Just ton't cut yourself, please..... The other words-you have a little bit more control over how your orchid is doing if you repot in to the transparant plastic pot......
Best of luck......

[loreley]

Thanks, orchidea, for the useful you.tube tip. No, unfortunately my plastic pots are not transparent, they're white, so I cannot check the status of the roots, but they have lots of holes at the bottom, though.

[loreley]

The medium I'm planning to use is a medium that, according to the supplier, is made with sterilized Rexius fir bark, washed Coconut husks, Diatomite and AAA New Zealand long-fiber sphagnum moss. I hope it works...

[orchidea]

Originally Posted by loreley

Thanks, orchidea, for the useful you.tube tip. No, unfortunately my plastic pots are not transparent, they're white, so I cannot check the status of the roots, but they have lots of holes at the bottom, though.

Transparant plastic pot could be nice for the first repot, but it's not the most important thing right now. Get brave and start repotting......
Let us know if there are more questions.....
Phals usually don't mind when you pull them out of the pot to check the roots.
Start by pulling your orchid out (be carefull with the leaves), see what is there - step 1. You can always push it back in to the pot if the roots are nice and healthy, no harm to the plant.

[orchidea]

Originally Posted by loreley

The medium I'm planning to use is a medium that, according to the supplier, is made with sterilized Rexius fir bark, washed Coconut husks, Diatomite and AAA New Zealand long-fiber sphagnum moss. I hope it works...

Sounds good. I would usually add some perlite, charcoal and a little lava rock to my mix (I mix my own). If the fibers of the Sphagnum moss are very long just chop them up a little. Sphag is probably the main reason your orchid has some problems to begin with. Don't water too much or too often if there is sphag in the mix as that is what retains water the most. That's why (I assume) your orchid would never get dry with the old potting it's sitting in.

[mytwogirls]

I repotted mine while it was in full bloom because of moss. Luckily I had no rotten roots but I listened to the wise words of the people on the board and repotted in bark. I am glad I did, now I don't have to worry. My plant is doing great! I wish you the best of luck.