Doubts about when to repot and check the roots

[Schila]

There is a sticky in this forum by Fred that I was reading and it says:
POTTING is done in the spring, immediately after flowering. Phalaenopsis plants msut be potted in a porous mix. Potting is usually done every one to three years.
I'm a little bit confused about when to repot during a year. Should you just repot in spring? If you want to change the media where your phalaenopsis is because you think that is not doing well, should you wait until next spring or can you just repot anytime of the year? I've read a lot in here that orchids like to be repoted.
Another thing that confuses me is when they say to check the roots. Is it ok for orchids, in my case phals, to take them out of the media anytime you want to just check the roots? Isn't this too much stress for the plant?

[brazilianfernie]

If your phal is not doing well or the potting media needs to be changed, you do not have to wait until spring to repot it. They are actually very hardy plants and dont mind being repotted as much. (this is from my own personal experience)

the question about taking them out of media whenever you want just to check roots will have to be answered by someone else, as I do not check them often.
you can always pot them in a clear plastic container, it makes it easier to see the roots. I use 2 liter soda bottles cut in half, or those disposable fake tupperware bowls with holes in them. It lets me keep track of how wet the media is and also lets me get a good look at the roots.

good luck!

[pikkumyy]

um, that is a bit of a hard question, if an orchid needs repotting badly, then it needs to be repotted in my opinion, i think the thing about repotting in spring is that the new roots should quickly colonise the new pot

but i look forward to others opinions

[Dendian]

Yes Michael - it is because of the new root growth that the recommendation is made. However Phals are very forgiving of being pulled out of their pots to check the roots - I have done it when flowering - when concerned about leaf growth - any time I want to, and they don't seem to skip a beat. I always repot my Phals when I get them home from a Big Box store - doesn't matter what time of year it is - I want to get them out of that soaking wet tightly packed moss!

[ChryssM]

Yes, Dian, and I'm FINALLY learning to repot the plant when you get it home no matter where you get it !! That way you have it in YOUR media which you know how to take care of in YOUR environment !! Couple hard lessons taught me that !

I also believe, from experience, in emergency repotting whenever a plant looks to be in danger.
.

[koshki]

Well, I never heard about a specific time to repot a phal before...I've done it throughout the year, and have not had any problems. That includes plants in spike and in bloom...as long as I don't knock the spike off (which I have done), they have continued to bloom as if nothing has happened. Actually, that's not true, most plants have seemed much happier after I repotted them!

[11Orchid126]

What about cattleyas? Isn't there something about the tip of the root being green before you repot?

[psyc1210]

Originally Posted by 11Orchid126

What about cattleyas? Isn't there something about the tip of the root being green before you repot?

For any orchid in general it is best to repot when there are actively growing roots. Of course there are times that you have to repot something when the roots are not actively growing. New roots will adapt to any difference in media, etc.