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Tips for success? I’ve recently repotted my phalaenopsis orchid… | The Orchid Oasis | Planta community

Snowstorm

Tips for success? I’ve recently repotted my phalaenopsis orchid (3-4months ago) and I’ve noticed that she’s not been super happy afterwards. She’s dropped 2 (old) leaves but recently grew the one on the right post repotting. I’ve got plenty of healthy roots and the looks of a new one starting but she hasn’t had a flower spike in 2 years. Regularly watering her 50mL once a week. Perhaps she doesn’t like the switch from sphagnum moss to the new orchid mixture and bigger pot? (Her roots were growing out of the old pot so she needed an upgrade) I got the grow lights thinking she needed more light now that it’s winter as she’s previously loved this window and we’ve been having no sun for the past month.

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4 comments

  1. Jen

    Sphagnum retains water far longer than bark- so you may have to change the way you water when you make a drastic media change. Water when you see that the media has dried and the roots have gone from green to silver- that could be every 3-4 days instead of weekly. It may take a year for your phal to adjust to new media and grow a couple more leaves to come back enough to flower. (And I would have suggested more light, but you are already doing that. 😊)

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    • Snowstorm

      Oh wow a year ok! Good to know! Would you recommend putting some sphagnum back in then? Or would it be too soon since the last repotting?

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    • Jen

      If you soaked the roots first, then gently repotted with a mix of bark and sphagnum, you’d probably be fine. Just try to keep the moss light and fluffy and not super compacted. Remember they like water, but they like air just as much, so you want to strike a decent balance. A year is a very general guideline. It all depends on the hybrid you have. Some individuals are more sensitive to set back and make you wait aaaaages… and some are super vigorous growers and prolific flower producers. Generally speaking, phals spike when the temps drop in the fall and bloom in the early winter months.

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    • Snowstorm

      Ok I’ll do that then. Thank you! She’s my first orchid (and plant that I was able to keep alive really) so I’m still pretty new to all this but she’s been hanging with me for 4 years. Only ever had 2 bloom cycles and the 2nd time was in the start of summer so that’s surprising to hear they typically bloom in fall! Guess she’s an odd one!

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