You water it when it is dry, not on a schedule. Why move it to shade after potting, put it back where it has been happily growing.

Brooke

The reason I move an orchid to the shade is that it in shock after repotting,and needs a rest. At least that was what I learned with cattleyas.
????So do I water in just a few days, umlike cattlyas?

I like to wait about a week for mine grown in sphag (with mixed in charcoal and perlite). During that week though, I typically mist the top of the medium a bit to keep it slightly moist but less so than a full watering would do. I hope that helps :). Good luck!

Ryan

I don't consider my plants in shock when I repot them. Even my catts which have to have their roots pried off the pot and table are put back in their same location. I repot them when they first start active root growth so they are always in their grow season.

I repot my phals any season and they go back in their normal growing spot.

The only time I change that routine is a brand new purchase which get repotted into my media of choice regardless of their growing season.

I would water the phal you just repotted when it is dry. I can't tell you the number of days since I don't know your conditions.

Brooke

I put a skinny wooden barbeque shish kabob stick down into the center of the moss/root area, take out the stick to check and water when the stick is barely damp in my conditions.

Phals can definitely experience light shock when placed back in their normal light after repotting, particularly if you are already pushing their upper light limits or the plant is already not happy. It happens to me every once in a while. Like you, Brooke, I prefer to put my plants right back from whence they came., whatever time of year. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen (pics available). The conventional wisdom is to give it lower light right after repotting because they sometimes get transplant shock. In their shocked state they can't tolerate their usual dosage.

Terp I think your key words are "plant is already not happy". I repot phals when they out grow their pot not because they are failing.

I assumed cattjen was just increasing a pot size and not dealing with a failing plant. I guess I shouldn't assume.

Brooke

Hi everyone,
I havent had the time to check my post here until now.
Thank you for all the replies.
I am in the Pacific NW, and I grow indoors in my living room under T-5 floros. The humidity isnt that great. Even with a vics humidfier. I'm going to try to improve on that.
I recently purchased this little paph on ebay. I noticed that the potting medium was mushy and broken down and had some kind of moss growing on top of the medium. It had been in a greenhouse, and has to adjust to a new environment. It recently shed a bottom leaf, although the two top leaves are ok, plus the new one just starting.
I think it would be best if it went into a new plastic pot with sphagnum moss. They (phals) seem to do better with sphagnum in my growing conditions.
I ordinarily do not repot but the mushy medium bothers me.

Brooke, not all of them were failing. That was an "either/or" statement, they weren't all failing AND in higher than normal light. Some of them had it happen but not all. Mostly it happened to healthy plants that were simply repotted and returned to their regular spot amd light.

I repot my phals in sphagnum (clay pots), with peanuts on the bottom. I water well right after re-potting and do that for all plants, and put the plant back on the bench where it came from :)

Just repotted a few days ago Cochleanthes Lip Blush , in a bigger pot - also pure sphagnum moss. Before I use moss, I soak it well in a bucket of water, so water or not, the plant gets lots of moisture right away.

Had worked for years. Goes to show you, there are as many methods are there are growers! :)

Ryan,
Thanks for the earlier advice . That is what i'm going to do.
Trepguy, I too "err'on the side of caution, and want to keep my repotted orchids out of strong light for at least a week if not more.

Hi Gesjenn,

Welcome. Which cross did you get?

My orchids are indoors in MN in dry conditions (humidity from 15%-50%), and the Phals are in NZ sphag and plastic pots. They get repotted in the spring.

What works for me is to soak the sphag till it's sopping wet, then squeeze out a lot of the moisture before wrapping the plant. The ideal is for the sphag to be somewhat fluffy and damp but not wet. I could still squeeze out more water, but not a lot.

The repotted Phal goes in reduced light for a week, several feet away from the window and artificial light. It doesn't get watered, which allows any raw root ends to harden off.

The sphag may get dry - even crunchy - before the 7 days are up, but I tough it out. :)

This method's worked with Phals that are new or stressed or both, plus those in spike, bud, and bloom.

My one concern would be if you had any raw root ends in completely wet sphag and a plastic pot.

If I'm not going to repot a brand new orchid for some reason - in spike, etc., and it's not a Phal - it goes in reduced light for a week too, esp. if it was shipped.

Hope your Phal does well. Let us know how it goes.

Do any of you guys buy NZ sphag online? I can't get any locally. Tried searching via google just yesterday. I'm on dial-up with a very slow 'puter. The only place I found was CalWest. I was hoping to find a vendor who also sells plants, then I could also order a new plant & make the shipping more worthwhile ;)

gesjenn, if you can get hands on the May issue of Orchids, there are a couple articles on growing phals. Really good info. It was reading these articles that made me determined to get NZ Sphag.

Sheila :)

Hi whitecat and granniek,(and everyone)
Thank you for the warm welcome!
My phal is Sios Dateline x Shanhai Red Rose.
It may turn out to be one of those sunset color types,a although the other parent is a large white. Doesnt matter, I'm sure it will be pretty.
I am going to repot this Sunday. I just haven't time until then. I'll let you know how it goes.
Sheila, you can get sphagnum moss on ebay if you cant get it locally. I have the same problem where I am, too..
gesjenn

My Phal keeps producing leaves (new one today) but the tall "stems) look dead. Plant is approximately 5 months old. Any suggestions? Thanx, Pat

Here is the FAQ about cutting off the tall "stems:"

Cutting Flowering spikes