New member with new Phal

[Una]

Hello everyone!

New member here, just thought I should say hello!
Found this place last night, and I love it already - stayed up way too late just to read and look at all your pretty orchids!

You got me all inspired, so today I had to jump on my old bike and go buy a new orchid. I got a lovely orange/pink Phal, with 5 flowers and 30(!) buds. It's looking very healthy, lots of roots and a few more on the way.

I have a few questions tho - should i repot it now while it's still in bloom, or is it better to wait?
And also - to get some of the 30 buds to open, what's the best way to take care of it? Should i fertilize alot during flowering, to help it a little extra I mean. Would be a shame if all the buds just fell off/died...

Will show pictures, just need to get my postcount up

Thanks in advance!
/Sandra

[krpot]

Hello Una! Welcome to Orchid Geeks! I'm sure an expert is on the way to help. From what I heard it's best to repot as soon as possible to get a good look at the root condition and whatnot. I've been told to keep it a little more moist than usual when in flower.

[Phalcycle]

Welcome Una!
TO answer your question on re-potting, it is a maybe question. You have to consider many things before you can decide whether to or not.
First you should be comfortable with the growing medium it's in. Most phals come in sphagnum moss, which is a little tricky to deal with, mostly because it's moisture contents that it holds. Many root rot problems are caused by overwatering in sphagnum moss.
If you aren't comfortable with moss, you should definatly repot into a bark mixture. If it is already in bark, check it the bark is new, or broken down and looks like dirt. If it's too broken down, you should definalty repot because it will not give the roots the air they need to survive.
For the blooms, many people lose their blooms when their is a change in enviroment. This is called Bud Drop, and when the enviorment is too dry, due to a heater, the buds dry up and fall. To prevent this, run a humdifyer or create humidity trays for your orchids. They will provide the moisture and humidity they need for blooming.
I normally don't feed my orchids during bloom, only after so I don't really know about feeding much. Maybe another expert can help you out on that one.
Good Luck and Have fun goring orchids =)

[syndywindy]

Hi Una, welcome to the forum. Hope you enjoy it. You've asked a question that gets many differing responses. I personally repot just about any new orchid I purchase, whether there are blooms, buds, etc.Again, I personally have never had a problem with bud blast when repotting a blooming orchid. Others will tell you to wait until it's done blooming. To me, I don't use moss, so I like to get my orchid into a bark mix. Sometimes orchids from commercial growers will just really pack the moss so tight the roots don't have sufficient air to breath. And while the top may feel pretty dry, that moss underneath could really be quite wet. Thats where the problem comes in,you water thinking it needs it and you end up with rotted roots. there have been a few occassions where I haven't repotted and thats usually when I've been to an orchid nursery and purchased directly from them. Good luck and hope to see pictures of your new phal soon.

[rcb]

Welcome!

[Una]

Oh, thanks for your replies so far! =)

The Phal is planted in bark right now, and I bought a new bag of bark mix yesterday, so I might repot it in that. I've asked in a few shops if they sell the Spaghnum moss, but no luck so far. All they've got to sell me is what's called "Spanish Moss" here in Sweden. That's not it tho, it's just the type of moss you use for decoration and stuff.

Need to spam some threads or something to get my postcount up - it sure would be easier for you to give advice if you could see what I've got to deal with here.

Thanks again! =)

[Una]

Five posts, pictures incoming..

[Una]

Ok, here we go...

[rcb]

That sure looks like one healthy plant, and a great root system! Beautiful.

[Dendian]

Hello and to the forum.

What a beautiful flower , and such healthy roots . If the medium looks fine, I would leave it in there until its finished blooming, unless you don't usually grow in bark.

And you are right, spanish moss is not the stuff to plant your orchids in. You don't need to use moss if you are comfortable with bark.

[JimBer]

Hi,
You have come to the right place with your questions, I have received many helpful replies to question I've posted. (I too am a newbie)
Usually with a new plant I will let it finish blooming then replant, I am not sure this is ideal, this is my process and to date it has worked for me. When I repot I always get rid of the moss and repot with bark, for me moss is too moisture retentive.

[Una]

Thanks again for your replies - this place is great!

I've had another look at the Phal (or more like staring at it all day...), and poked around a little in the bark at the top, and I think it looks alright, not too decomposed.
Might just leave it alone until it's finished blooming.

[syndywindy]

That is one gorgeous phal, and looks really healthy. Since it looks so good, I would probably leave it until after blooming.

[Phalcycle]

That is a sight to see, huh...
It looks completely happy in it's pot as is.
If you want to repot, repot into a pot ½-1 in bigger. Don't choose too big of a pot, as they lead to root rot.

But the bark medium still looks fine, as they aren't broken down.
Also, I would advise to repot after blooming, because there is no need.

[SamIAm]

Hi Una, Welcome

Your new phal is beautiful, I love the color. It looks great in every way, I wouldn't change a thing. Sit back, relax and enjoy your new phal

[kmarch]

I think it is fine just as it is. It looks like it is potted in a good bark mix and the mix looks fresh to me. The roots look really healthy. I don't really think it needs to be repotted. Get yourself a good culture sheet at AOS | Members Only Area or from the orchid care section of this forum and give it a read. Let us know if you have any questions.

[PhalNewbie89]

WELCOME, and what a beautiful plant. Wish my plants had so many happy roots.

[mytwogirls]

The ONLY thing I would be worried about is SOMETIMES there is moss balled up underneath the root system hidden, even when potted in bark. It happened to me when I repotted my mother in law's phal not too long ago. Her plant, which was potted in bark when she bought it, was fine, but the moss was soaking wet and I had to snip some roots. I don't THINK this is the case with yours, it is just something you have to be careful with.

About repotting: It is totally up to you. If it were potted in moss, I would say REPOT for sure. It is always better to maybe lose a few blooms rather than lose the entire plant due to not repotting. Again, you are fine I think. I repotted mine when in full bloom, lost a few buds on one plant, and none on another.

All in all great job! Glad you are with us!

[Una]

Hello again!

I just remembered that I haven't said thank's for all your replies and great advice.

I decided not to repot my new Phal, and I'm glad I didn't - I haven't had any bud drop, and it keeps on opening new flowers every day!

It's got 23 flowers right now, and more on the way...

Here's a picture for you!

Oh, and thanks one more time

[mytwogirls]

Great job! Beautiful plant!

[chaseg89]

Wow thats a really healthy looking plant...love the roots on that thing. Good luck with it!

[dounoharm]

what a great looking plant!! great roots and wonderful color on the flowers!!! excellent shopping!!

[englandfx]

Those roots look fantastic...which was last month =P

[Carole]

What a healthy looking plant!

Welcome, Una. I'm pretty new myself and am learning all sorts of things on this forum and have chatted with three very nice people. One of them even lives here in Columbus and I'm going to meet her in person at the Central Ohio Orchid Society meeting tomorrow night. Can hardly wait.

One of the neatest things about this forum is that you're hearing from people all over the world and seeing their plants. Lots of fun!

[mehitabel]

I agree with everyone else-- it's a beautiful plant, sturdy, healthy, terrific roots, lots of leaves, new roots starting, two spikes! Terrific pick.

The flowers are beautiful, too, and so many! And no, it doesn't need repotting. Enjoy it just the way it is. If it gets a little tippy because of the weight of the flowers, just put it, pot and all, into a slightly larger clay pot.

[berniep]

G'Day Una

What a great plant, thanks for showing it to us.

Cheers
Bernie