Re-potting

[Martine]

Hi! I'm getting ready to re-pot a phal for the first time. Anyone have any useful tips or advice? Thanks!

[mayres]

Assuming you have already decided on media - of which there are lots of choices......
Do not oversize your new pot - just large enough to comfortably fit your roots in.
Many of us like to use clear pots in order to more easily view what is going on inside (added "comfort" level) - they seem to potentially contain the roots a little better too, or maybe just my imagination? You can always put your clear pot into another pot for show when blooming as well.
Trim off all mush, black, dried, etc. roots - keep all tan/green/gray thick firm ones (of course).
You might want to think about soaking the roots and media for a spell before repotting in order to make the roots a little more nimble and easier to turn/bend and place into their new (or cleaned up) pot.
I like to put a layer of styrofoam peanuts in the bottom of the pot for additional air circulation and drainage. Be careful not to use the kind that turn to goo when wet.
If you are using bark I'd be sure and soak for at least 24-48 hours. Some poor quality bark will also require soak/watering for the first few months in order for the bark to start retaining water sufficiently.
Take a picture of the before and after and post if you can! Love to admire your work.

[Martine]

Thanks for the tips! Will do!

[11Orchid126]

Mayres advice is excellent. You might find it helpful to get a skewer or the rubber end of a pencil and use it to push the medium down between the roots and along the sides. The medium should be tamped in firmly.

[Martine]

Ok, thanks!

[Janet]

The above information is very helpful. I am ready to repot my phal. today and would like to know what to do with a root (5 1/2" long) that has been in the air from the beginning.
Do I soak it to soften it and put it down in the medium or just leave it in the air ??? If soaking, do I just use plain water ? Your help will be greatly appreciated. This is my first phal. ! Thank you, Janet

[janet_a]

if they're in the air, leave them there.

definitely water the plant well with whatever water you usually use before you take it out of the pot; that will soften up the roots and make them easier to get out.

just be gentle and patient and it'll be fine.

[Janet]

Thank you janet a and all of you for such good information. My Phal is now repotted and will just have to have patience and wait to see how it does. So glad that I repotted it as there were so many bad and sort of dead roots. It was on it's way to root rot and I sure hope it will be saved.

Of course, I soaked way too much medium. Have put it in a pan to dry and am wondering if when dry I can put it in a ziplock and save it till next time.
Thank you so much for your help !!! Janet

[Janet]

Thank you janet a and all of you for your great information ! It is now repotted and good thing I did it. There were many dead roots and much mush. Well on it's way to root rot ! All went well and hope it can be saved. Time will tell.

Of course I soaked way too much medium. Have put it in a pan to dry out and suppose I can bag it up when dry and use it for the next orchid repot ???
Thanks again ! Janet

[Martine]

I did the same thing, Janet! Haha! So I'm wondering the same!

[kid a]

I would throw it in a ziploc bag. I recently bought a 1 gal ziplock bag of premixed medium from a commercial grower at the Indiana Orchid Society Show. The medium is not bone dry just slightly moist. Not moist enough to wet anything but enough to feel that it is a little moist. I haven't had any problems or anything. I know a lot of commericial growers or g/hs ship and sell lage boxes of media in plastic bag like liners. Hope that helps :-)

[Martine]

Thanks!

[janet_a]

oh absolutely save it; just watch that it doesn't get moldy. and it's always better to soak too much than too little.

[Janet]

The repotting went well but only one bloom out of the 5 have survived. I expect to see the last one wilt very soon. I was sort of expecting that.
NEXT QUESTION: I suppose it is time to cut the spike down. Could someone tell me in detail where exactly to cut it ??? Being a newbie isn't always fun but watching the noid grow and bloom was exciting ! Your help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Janet