repotting

[meviva]

Hi, Is it ok to repot an orchid while it is in bloom or is it better to wait until the flowers die off?

Thanks,
Andrea

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Hi Andrea,

Wait until the flowers are done. If you really need to repot while in bloom, then try to only disturb the roots very little. We have repotted orchids before a show that were in bloom with no ill effects, but left the root ball pretty much intact.

Cheers,
BD

[Cjcorner]

My new thing, I remove the plastic pot from the decorative container and check what they are potted with...in the center especially. Often, when the store gets new plants, they top them off with nice fresh looking bark. You check and water when the bark is dry, yet inside is a little wad of sphagnum moss rotting the inside roots away. (one of my favorite pet peeve rants here lol) I am known to repot my phals even when in bud so that I get to keep the plant. I may loose blooms, but the plant is healthier and I will have years of flowers. It's so sad to me to watch a beautiful plant wither away due to rotten roots.
Hope this helps...Connie

[ischel1]

Connie is absolutely right. I always check out the roots on new plants and if need be repot in fresh bark after getting rid of that nasty old sphag. Yes you may lose the blooms, but at least the plant will survivre.
ischel

[SuZCC]

Yes, I noticed this very problem at a box store today! They have some nerve selling orchids with root rot even at slashed prices-it still too much to pay for a phal that is just going to die.

[Phyrex]

I'm with Connie on this one too. Except for 2 stores/nurseries around here I always check the roots ASAP.
It's amazing what they are charging for NOID Phals (they don't even look like they'll make it through the current flowering).