Question
I know that this is not a good time to repot phals, but I just received some phals that I wanted to repot into a medium that I am comfortable with.  Would this be a good idea?  Or should I wait till spring to repot?  Will I be doing more harm than good if I repot them now even though I think I can care for them better in the medium that I am using?  Thank you for taking the time to answer my question...Sky

Answer
Hello Skylar,

While this may not be the optimum time to repot phals, you can go ahead and repot them into media you're more comfortable with.  Before starting, check them for any new spikes emerging and be extra cautious in handling them if they do.  While repotting them, take a good look at the underside of the leaves for any insects hiding there, especially mealybugs and scales.  Also, be careful to not damage any actively growing root tips (usually a green color at the end of grey roots), damaged tips will stop growing.

After repotting, be sure to keep them warm and on the dry side for several weeks to help encourage root growth.  

Good luck and good growing.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.