My Phal...should I repot?

[Moxi]

I received this Phal last February.. it bloomed for what seemed like years

A couple weeks ago, just when I thought I wasnt "doing it right" I noticed a new leaf sprouting and a few days after that, a spike?

Here are some photos of the roots, new leaf and whatever it is that's poking out from between leaves...

Should I repot? Trim the roots? fertilize? or just leave it alone and let it do it's thing?

Here's the roots...


The new leaf..


Is this a spike?


Old spike and are these roots supposed to look like this?


What it looked like last year...


I'm thrilled to see something going on with it.. especially since my workmate told me to just throw it out and buy a new one instead of waiting for it to bloom! Surely she didnt understand that in some wicked way, I enjoy this test of my patience

~ M ~

[rich63]

Patience is the name of the game! If it's not broke,don't fix it.Looks like a new spike,time will tell. It could be a aerial root. Hopefully its a new spike. I don't have any problem of re-potting if the plant needs it at anytime. If you saw what I just did with a large cattleya in bud, you'd think I'm crazy ! Not only did I repot, but I also divided the plant. If you do re-pot you will want to remove any dead or mushy roots. There are some good helpful links in the RVO library on how to re-pot your phal. I would wait to see what others have to say about re-potting. Looks like whatever you are doing, your plant seems to be happy. Have Fun, Rich

[Daethen]

That deffinately looks like a new spike. I would probably repot if you haven't since you got it. It shouldn't hurt the developement at all and it will probably give the plant a good boost. It certainly is beautiful. You are doing something right.

[EMos]

Well done Moxi! It is definitely a spike. The previous blooms on that phal was amazing, hope you have as many flowers on it or more this time.
Given it is just spiking I would probably leave it alone and start using a high potassium fertilizer. I would suggest you repot only if you notice signs of active root rot or decomposing media at this stage, or else wait till it finishes flowering.

[Moxi]

Thanks for the advice folks! Everything in the pot looks happy and healthy - I'm still torn on repotting. I'm so happy that it's doing something that I am hesitant to do anything to jeapordize my first rebloom on my only orchid

I realize that sometime I am going to need to bite the bullet and repot it...

~ M ~

[Kmac]

As long as it seems happy, I'd wait til after it blooms. The roots in the pot are a little hard to see, but it looks like they are healthy from here.

[Moxi]

I have peeked at the roots and they do seem healthy - nothing funky going on in there. I think my biggest concern was stiffling it's bloom becuase I didnt repot it last year either. I'll just have to wait and see


~ M ~

[Tmai]

Good growing Moxi! I would wait until after the bloom to repot. It would be just awful to accidently break the spike while handling the plant (speaking from experience, I'm afraid). She looks healthy to me!