Re-potting a Phalaenopsis in Sphag Moss

I was recently given a rather miserable looking Phalaenopsis. To be honest, it didn’t really need a re-pot after I’d flushed the pot and medium, but I’ve done it anyway as I needed a subject for this blog.
If there is any sign of a flower spike, delay the re-pot, unless it is absolutely necessary.
Firstly, prepare the new pot. Drill a series of 5 or 6mm holes around the sides (watch your fingers) to improve air circulation and drainage. Wash the pot in hot water.


I use a wood drill………


I put the sphag moss and perlite in a bowl to soak.


Carefully remove the old medium. This can be a fiddly job. Washing the roots off under lukewarm running water as you go along helps. With a pair of clean and sharp scissors, trim of any dead or rotten roots.


Now the b@ll aching bit – refill the root ball with the sphag moss and perlite mix. Use a bamboo skewer to poke it right in there. All the time you need to hold the orchid and work with care, being careful not to break any part of the orchid and the roots.


Place some moss in the bottom of the pot…….


……….and carefully lower the packed rootball into the pot, using the skewer where needed. Gently pack more of the moss mix down the sides working carefully until the orchid is stable in the pot.

What you are trying to achieve is to get enough in to make it reasonably tight and stable, but not so tight that there is no room for root growth or some air circulation.

This is what you will end up with…………


Leave it to drain for an hour or so before placing back in its original spot. It should not need any more water now for at least a week.

 

This is a brilliant and helpful thread thankyou Longk