Question
Hi Wayne,

I am in Melbourne Australia and were given two orchids when I had my third baby 19 months. Unfortunately I have already lost one as I think I killed it with kindness and the second one which is now flowering beatifully, has lots of little white egg looking things on the roots.  one of my kids also knocked it on the floor (before the flower spike came) and the pot is split but I have tapped it back up together.  i will obviously need to repot it as the current pot is broken, and i know that now is not the time as it is flowering, but when should I repot it, and what do i do about the little white things?  any suggestions would be much appreciated. regards  Emma

Answer
Emma, thank you for your questions.  I cannot say for certain what the egg-like masses are on the roots as there are several possibilities.  What is important for now is that your plant is doing well and flowering.  For now, enjoy the flowers.  You need not repot until the plant has finished flowering unless the plant starts showing signs of distress.

When you have an opportunity, you can obtain fresh potting mix and a new pot in preparation for repotting. I recommend that you use a potting mix that contains fir bark, tree fern, osmunda, or some combination. Try to avoid mixes with moss.  Most orchid potting mixes are of this sort. Phalaenopsis orchids are probably best potted in a plastic pot with lots of drainage holes. It is likely that the "egg-like" masses are there because the potting mix has broken down.  When you are ready to repot, remove the plant from its pot, rinse the roots off thoroughly (you may need to use a spray of water).  This should remove all of the egg-like masses before you repot. Also, if you have any collapsed or stringy roots, these should be cut off as they are dead.  Healthy orchid roots are firm and turn green or yellowish when wet.  I recommend that you soak the fresh orchid potting mix prior to use as many mixes come dry and some components, such as fir bark, need to have their water repellant properties broken down prior to use.

My comments are based upon the assumption that you are growing a phalaenopsis (moth orchid) as they are the most common in cultivation.  If you have another type, we may need to revisit the potting issue.

Another tip:  After repotting in the plastic pot, you may wish to insert the plastic pot into a clay pot that has lots of drainage holes in the bottom.  Since plastic pots are fairly light weight, it will be more difficult this way to tip it over.