Phalaenopsis - repot or not

[exairborne]

This is my one of my Phal which I have had now for 18 months, it re bloomed last Nov and has been in flower since then. However it looks like its a bit pot bound to me, how do you repot an orchid, is it just put into a bigger pot ?

[Kmac]

It seems pretty happy to me, so I think I'd let it finish blooming before I did anything. Here's some info on repotting that you may find helpful:
How to Repot a Phalaenopsis Orchid | River Valley Orchidworks
Good luck!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

I was going to link to the same article as Kathi... haha..

I agree, when it finishes this bloom cycle, it is time to repot. Looks like you are giving it the proper care. Nice growing!

Cheers,
BD

[Moxi]

Great video on repotting! What's the rule of thumb as to when to repot a healthy looking Phal... What I mean by that is.. when the roots look cramped? what is considered cramped for a phal? And as far as timing in it's cycle.. mine just sprung a new leaf and at the same time what seems to be a spike (just barely breaking through) .. do I wait until that completely grows out, flowers and then repot?

I've tried searching "when to repot" and most of the articles explain how...

~ M ~

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Hi Moxi, You can repot any time the orchid is actively growing. Now is a good time before the spike develops too much. I have repotted even when in bud and bloom, but when doing so, you must be very careful to not disturb the roots too much. When we were selling orchids commercially, we would get a shipment in from Hawaii of 60+ phal plants in bud and have to repot all of them into our grow containers. So, I promise you it can be down. I recommend always repotting your orchids into the medium you are most comfortable with and that suits your watering habits. Good luck to you!

Cheers,
BD

[Moxi]

Thanks Bruce! But how do I know if it needs to be repotted?

~ M ~

[Brutal_Dreamer]

You can tell if the pot is over crowded or if the orchid is growing out of the pot. Usually you should repot a plant potted in moss every year. A plant in a bark mix can go two to three years (generally). If you have a question about yours, post a new thread and include a photo and let everyone here take a look.

Cheers,
BD