Phal repotting question

[blrnut]

Hi,

I bought a phal abt a month back. It is in spike now. I'm trying to be careful and water only once a week. It is placed in a South facing window, where it is fairly windy and cloudy this time of the year here. However, I'm not very happy with the potting media (peat+charcoal), as I ended up over-watering my last phal (couple of months back). I'm a little confused now, as it is in spike, and I heard that if you re-pot when in spike, you tend to end up in "bud-blasting". And neither do I want to lose the plant. Please help me take a decision on this.

Thanks
satish

[playtime8978]

ok dont take my advice on its own wait for someone more experienced to chip in BUT I would removed the peat mix from the phal as soon as possible and replace it with a bark mix ( someone more experienced can help you with the mix needed) peat will not allow the roots to breath and so sufficate them and the plant will die. Repotting while in flower is not ideal but better to lose this seasons flowers and save the plant then leave it and lose the plant, It will always have the chance of reflowering if you repot now, just be careful not to break the spike off when handling it. I repotted two in flower I got from the store and they carried on flowering just fine.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

It is okay to repot when in spike and bud as long as you disturb the roots as little as possible. If the buds are about to open, wait until they are open, but if they are still tight, repot that phal - ASAP! Here is a link that might help:

Repotting a Phalaneopsis Orchid – Video Demonstration by RVO

Good luck!

Cheers,
BD

[Cjcorner]

I've repotted many of my phals when in bud and bloom. Once in awhile you will lose a bud or a flower, but you save the plant.