Recently I was given several indoor plants, one being a beautiful orchid. I have never grown one. I have managed to keep it alive for a month but don't know about the future
It is potted but sitting in another pot. I lift it out water it thoroughly, let the most of the water drain out and put it back
The flowers still look good and it appears to be planted in mulch !?!
Do I have to repot and when ? Do they have an orchid mix?
Do y all have a mix ingredient list?
Thanks for any help
Jolana

Jolana, I/we would love to see pictures of not only the orchid itself but what it is planted in and what the pot(s) look like. There are not a lot of orchids that are purchased in big-box stores that are growing the right media or in the right pot. Most of those orchids will be Phalaenopsis, so also include the label name of your orchid.

Yep, that's a Phalaenopsis, Jolana. It is planted in an orchid mix, so that's good. The decorative pot is probably solid, with no drainage, so you are doing right by letting the clear pot drain well before putting it back into the decorative pot. Personally, I would sit that clear pot into a slightly larger clay pot just to allow for better air movement and the fact that any water remaining can be absorbed by the unglazed clay. You can tell by the algae on the roots that the plant was grown with the clear pot exposed to light and was only put into that metal "pot" for store-display purposed.

Thank you Ken, how often do they need to be repotted?
Do they have a orchid mix to repot? I plan on putting it in another pot . The friend that gave it to me , dropped it in the parking lot and the jagged top of the pot ripped a leaf. And like you mentioned, its to tight.
Thank you again for helping

It's a beautiful plant, Jolana. I'd advise you wait until the blooms are all finished before doing anything. Phals can be sort of fussy about any change, so let it get acclimated to your home, enjoy the blooms (they might last weeks more!) and then think about repotting it later.

You can buy a bag of that orchid mix called "Phalaenopsis Mix" at HD or Lowe's, and a clay orchid pot with some vents in the side might be a good idea, too. You're right, it does look just like mulch, but that's what orchids like. Remember they are epiphytes that grow on trees in nature, which means they absorb a lot of nutrients through the leaves as well as the roots. They really like their roots to get lots of air, so that they dry out after watering, too.

Thank you Elaine, I won't do anything for a while
I'm still enjoying just knowing I've kept it alive for this long
This might start a whole new addiction,

Its a good addiction, Jolana. Well, up to a point.

It is generally said that you should not repot an orchid in bloom and further, you should wait to repot when you begin to see active root growth. Both are good "rules" to go by. Orchids can pout when repotted. I don't have a lot of choice when it comes to repotting though. With 600 orchids, and sizes ranging from tiny seedlings to mature, blooming-size plants, I am always repotting.

That is a lovely Phal Jolana. Basically it is a matter of preference whether you repot now or not. So far I find Phals will pout a bit, but I risk repotting even when in bloom, since I want to see the actual condition of the roots below. And those roots looking so tightly packed there, to me it feels so constricting. Phal roots are thicker and loves to go dry before next watering, so air circulation at the root zone level is important. I have often found some growers putting sphagnum moss at the center while the outlining side are with bark mix, so later the plant dwindles and suffer, because the center part is still too wet.

If you are not comfortable yet repotting, you can try putting extra slits on the side of that clear container. More slits for better air around the roots. I love Phals, their blooms lasts for several months.

I am with you on that, Tarev. I try to bite my tongue in saying "pot when necessary" though. I know I am in a completely different situation than everyone else.

Getting air to the roots is why I have gone to mesh-pots. I only use clay for terrestrials and sometimes with Phal., depending on top-heaviness.

That's good to know but I can wait as long as it is doing well
Fingers crossed!!!
Thanks for more info, everyone is so willing to help and it is appreciated

I was given another Phalaenopsis, lol this one came with a name and care card,

That's great, Jolana. But do ignore the care card if it says anything about watering with ice cubes!

I'm convinced that's a ploy by the growers to "help" us kill off their orchids as fast as possible so we'll buy more.

Oh no!!! I believe some are capable of that
I will listen to the advice here and be safe,
Thank you

Elaine...you will die when you hear this....the other day at the Tampa Orchid Club..the guest speaker was Phillip Hamilton... a phalenopsis expert...grower, breeder..judge.. He's originally from Jamaica and grew up growing Phals with his dad. Because it's so hot in Jamaica , it was difficult to get the plants to spike..apparently its a combination of shorter days and cooler temperatures that makes it all happen. He grew up using ice cubes and cold water to get the spikes started.... He now works for one of the major suppliers of Phals to the big box stores and I wonder if that is how the whole thing started?

Lindsey, at one time someone who knew the Phal. industry well (it is an industry now) told me who started that ice-cube watering method. He assured me the method was only thought up as an "easy" watering technique (who can't put a few ice cubes on the media). For the life of me, I cannot remember the name of the guy or the nursery the guy told me about. Of course, it surely could have originated by Phillip who passed it on.

Huh. Maybe I'll give it a try. That does make sense in the warmer climates, though mine are in the house where that will happen anyway.

I am posting the link to the Phalaenopsis nursery in Oberlin/Ohio. These guys are the ones who started the Ice cube thing.
http://www.justaddiceorchids.c...
Nice gimmick!!

But to get your Phalaenopsis to spike - I have read this years ago, one can take the whole pot and water it a couple of times with chilly water, without getting cold water into the crown. I have never done it though, since it cools down sufficiently here to get them to spike.

I have used the ice cube method actually, but only in the height of our dry summer a few years ago. Never on colder seasons. Seems to help the plant a bit. I just make sure the ice cube is on the media, and not on any exposed root as it slowly melts. Does it spike later because of that..not sure though, since it naturally gets cooler here. But I don't do it anymore, it will do the spike when it is ready, and always when it has cooled down all over.

Here too, Ursula. I will leave my orchids out (hopefully) well into October. Heck, we have already had a handful of nights/mornings in the low 50's and upper 40's. All my orchids will get their fair share of "chill", whether they require it or not.