Wanting to repot....

[Ontario Sue]

My first Phalaenopsis bloomed for 8 months and rested 7 weeks before sending out 2 more stems. One of these stems finished and I thought 'great - soon I'll be able to repot'.....wrong! Another stem came up and buds are established. If you're counting, since getting this plant in Oct 2006, it has been continually in bloom except for 7 weeks and has had 5 stems.

I'm not complaining .... but when can I repot?

I have the same problem with the other Phalaenopsis orchids I have...when to repot when they continue to bloom?

Two were almost dead when I adopted them - they are in now full bloom. I honestly didn't expect them to live so didn't repot them then and regret that decision now.

Another that I adopted this past February had been hacked off leaving only 1 leaf. It had been a gift, a magnificent plant, to a hospitalized friend whose daughter-in-law took it home and who thought she was doing the right thing by cutting it back - yikes! Again I didn't expect it to survive. It now has 4 leaves. I don't want to disturb it with the new growth looking so healthy.

I've met an orchid lover locally who has volunteered to show me how to repot orchids. However she said to wait until it finished blooming. At this point the only one not blooming is the one now with 4 leaves that I don't think should be disturbed.

Your input is appreciated.
Still a newby...
Sue in Ontario

[kid a]

The best time to repot is when you see new root growths. Preferably after blooming is better. But I have repotted a few phals during blooming and the blooms were fine. I ususlly repot when I get new plants but not always depending on the mix and how broken down it is or if there are rot or pest issues.

[dipasquo]

Some people will warn that it's possible to over-bloom an orchid; i.e. an orchid puts a lot of energy into putting up a spike and making flowers and it saps the long term health of the orchid. (The orchid's sole purpose in life is to replicate and it seems willing to kill itself trying.) Some will even recommend cutting a spike if the plant has not had time to rest. I myself have not had a Phal rebloom more than once so I've never faced the decision to cut back a third or fourth spike.

That said ... it sounds like those Phals are doing extremely well under your care. It's extremely satisfying to bloom an orchid that you rescue from the brink, isn't it? Would love to see some pictures if you have a chance to post them.

[mayres]

I've repotted phals in every stage of bloom and growth - they don't seem to ever skip a beat regardless of what is going on. My suggestion is to repot whenever you want. I've only seen them sulk after repotting if you use bark and don't presoak. As was noted - we love to see pics!

[Hummer344]

Geeeeeeeeeee's I wish I had your problem. I have re-potted phals in bloom before. I have about a 75/25 ratio with them keeping their blooms. If they are NOIDS I might just let them bloom and take my chances on the health of the plants. If you really want to keep the plants I would rest them for a cycle by cutting off the next spike.

[FLaCo]

Originally Posted by kid a

The best time to repot is when you see new root growths. Preferably after blooming is better. But I have repotted a few phals during blooming and the blooms were fine. I ususlly repot when I get new plants but not always depending on the mix and how broken down it is or if there are rot or pest issues.

I usually follow this rule of thumb unless it is something from Lowe's or Home Depot. Theose retailers have orchids in nothing but spag moss. I switch their pot and medium with or without blooms and they have been fine.

[mehitabel]

Hi, Sue. It sounds to me like you're doing just great without any advice. Congratulations!

Like several people above, I repot when I think they need it. I repot when I first buy an orchid. I at least unpot and check the roots if one starts to look "peaked" or doesn't grow when all its neighbors are growing.

Culture notes at the Canadian Orchid Congress discuss repotting as benefitting phals under several different conditions. You'll be encouraged and soothed by reading them. Howard Ginsburg of Bedford Orchids says repot phals often, whenever you feel like it, oftener than you think is needed. He says there is a growth spurt for three- to four months after a repot. For seedlings, he recommends a repot every 3-4 months. And yes, I think he is right about the growth spurt. You can read his comments at bedfordorchids.com. Just scroll down the page til you get to the culture notes.

About spiking: older type "standard" phals-- the big pinks, whites and stripes -- do tend to have a more or less fixed blooming time and a three or four month "off" period. However, the newer hybrids that have a mix of summer- and winter- blooming species in their ancestries can bloom more or less non-stop, and do start new spikes very soon after an old one is finished, if they are mature and healthy enough.

These would include waxy reds and purple, many harlequins, and most yellows as well as dtps with lots of doritis in them, and also multifloras.

There's no big mystery to repotting, and it doesn't have to be done by the phases of the moon. Just do it, using your gardener's common sense and whatever you can learn from the COC notes or other sources. Be sure to soak the plant for an hour or so to soften the roots and make them pliable first. Then handle with a *very* light hand, which most women can do. Eeeeease off the old medium, soaking it a little more if needed. It's better to leave a little old stuff on the roots than to damage the plant getting it off.

One more word about repotting: I got some good high grade sphag this spring and repotted all my phals into it in April. I have mostly the "new" type phals, and only a few of the standards. There was an absolute *orgy* of spiking all thru May and June. Third spikes on ones that were already blooming, and new spikes on nearly every other big, mature phal. At least 20-30 phals set new spikes after that repot.

So I think Howard Ginsburg is on to something.

[mehitabel]

Just found a great thread on repotting that includes a "how to" as well as an url to a website with information on repotting.

http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/gen...-transfer.html

[Ontario Sue]

Hey thanks everyone. I have a couple of pictures and have posted them but the rest will have to wait. Our grandchildren (2 and 8 mos) arrived today from Calgary and are visiting for the next couple of weeks but when I regain my breath (GRIN), I'll post some others.

Mehitabel - where did you find your sphag? When things get quieter here then I'm repotting.

THANK YOU everyone for your help.
Ontario Sue

[mehitabel]

Sue, I buy the sphag from Cal West, per recommendation from Cynthia. Enjoy your grandkids, and then enjoy the repotting. I actually love to repot.