So my little Enc. Green Hornet is growing like topsy, at least 5 new pb's since I got it in January. I recently discovered that it has nothing but sphagnum as medium in the pot which worried me.

I got a new Ecoweb pot recently, and wonder if I need to laboriously pick out all the sphagnum that is enmeshed in the root system of the plant before it goes into the new pot? The roots are small and fragile and I'm worried I will do more harm than good.

The Epiweb pot does have a saucer, but it has drainage holes in it, thankfully. I also got a sheet of Ecoweb that I was thinking of using as mounting material, but would a small circle of it in the bottom of the new pot be a good idea? Or just some bark mix to hold the plant up at the right height?

I hate to give advice like that, since there is no real answer. Having said that, I myself will soak a plant like that a bit and get busy with a pair of good forceps to pick out the Sphagnum carefully.

Not to worry, I should have just worded it "what would you do". That's all I wanted to know.

Will make my best attempt, and trust that the plant will be fine, as it's survived now nearly 9 months in the sphagnum and it has tons of healthy roots.

Thanks!

If it were my orchid, id just pick off what moss i could and leave the rest and use a coarse bark mix in the bottom and around the orchid.

Thanks, Bree. That's exactly what I did, too! It is happy, and didn't even drop it's last little flower!

Do you pot your Paphs in moss or bark mix? I have one left that has not died of black plague, and it is the only one in bark mix. The others had bark and moss and I think it was the moss that kilt them.

Seems like the moss is fine as long as it is not turning green or black. What was around the Enc. Green Hornet was turning dark colored and that's what got me worried. Summer was SO very humid.

I use a bark/perlite mix on all my orchids just different sized bark, i have actually been repotting them all and have found them to be on the dry side this time so have used smaller bark. Last repot i had a lot with rotted roots but none this time. I only use moss on my carnivorous plants as they stay moist always.
I find my paphs dont do as well in summer when its hot and humid, they need alot of water and air circulation.

I'm with Ursula in that I would get a nice pair of tweezers and pick out all of the moss that I could. I would then pot the orchid in bark with a couple pieces of packing peanuts, toss the saucer, attach a wire and hang it.

Jim

I was going to toss the saucer, too, but it is firmly glued to the pot. It does drain very well, so I'm not worried about things staying too wet.

Btw, I think these pots were a bargain, only $6 each with the hanging loops well attached as well, and they even included the wire hangers.

www.firstrays.com

Yes, I've used them but never seen one with an attached saucer.

Jim

If it's the same one I bought, it's not really a saucer, but the bottom of the pot, with several drainage holes. Mine seems to work well, so far.

Our cols spell was short too, Jim. Back to hot and super dry.

okay heres the plan I have one cat and 3 phalaenopsis I'm going to re pot tomarrow night after work 2 of the phals are babies I have fine bark for the babes and course for the other 2 wish me luck i'v read all I can find on this but last time I lost two wish me luck or do you have any words of wisdom ??????

Dust the roots with lots of cinnamon! It's the magic bullet for orchids, I think.

Trim off any soft/mushy (rotted) roots and use pots with excellent drainage that are only one size bigger than the roots of the orchid. Dont plant the crown of the phals to deep in the mix. Well i think thats my 2 cents worth. hehe!

thank you !!

Right, what Bree said! Plus angle the crown of the Phals so that water won't sit in the cup of the leaves. It can cause rot in a heartbeat!

Here are my Phals with their little crowns angled sideways. It looks funny to a traditional gardener who wants the plant to point straight up, but in nature these plants grow on the trunks of trees with their leaves facing down!

Elaine, they look great!

okay finaly got home ( I hate venison season ) babies first there soaking in water for a good drink then new home thanks for the info

I'm done !!! hope every one lives !!

Well done, Gloria. Now after I repot, I hide the newly potted victims somewhere I won't stress about them. I was finding myself overwatering seriously after repotting, out of misplaced sympathy. When I put them in a shady spot and try to ignore them for a week or two, they spring up with new growth and do fine.