Repotting phals

[matthewjohn]

I've recently purchased a new phal violacea. It is growing in chunky sphag and I want to repot it into a bark based media. The plant is very healthy looking and not in spike. I would like to repot into a media that I know (I'm alittle leary about sphag). Can I repot this plant now or should I wait.

[Ellen]

Sphag is fine as long as you don't overwater it. However, I would think repotting any time would be fine if you really hate the sphag. Phal violacea would do well mounted, too, if you have a place for it. The plant may sulk for a while after repotting, but should do fine in bark.

[jdh467]

HI ELLEN,
what do you mean when you say mounted.

[mayres]

Don't mean to butt in, but many people mount their orchids to simulate to an extent how they grow in the wild. A high percentage of orchids in nature grow on trees, so to simulate this, many people will "mount" their plants on pieces of wood or occasionally other similar materals. Generally you need to have them growing in an area with lots of humidity and water them more often to do this. Someone in our orchid society has all of his phals mounted - in order to make this successful he soaks the wood once per week and mists the roots every day. Here is a great photo of how phals grow in the wild on trees - http://forum.theorchidsource.com/cgi...=004259#000000 mike

[jdh467]

Thank You for the photo and information