Question
I've had several phalaenopsis orchids which bloomed and grew profusely until I had to repot them. They still grow pretty well but don't bloom at all. I've tried different potting mediums and wonder if it's the pot. I'm using terra cotta house plant type pots now.

Answer
Hi Carol,

How long have you had the phalaenopsis orchid?  Unlike houseplants, most orchids will produce blooms once a year.  This is why many people who grow orchids usually have more than one and have different kinds of orchids that will bloom at different times of the year.  

If your phals. are growing well, keep up the good work and they will reward you with blooms in the coming year.  While phals do not mind being repotted frequently, it is best to repot them every year to two years.  Any potting medium used should be an open mix that will retain some moisture.  The type of pot is not as important as the pot size, what you want is a pot that will just barely contain the roots.  Do not base the size on the size of the leaves, it is okay for the leaves to extend beyond the pot rim.  Why?  Because too large a pot will tend to cause the roots to rot because the potting medium does not dry out quickly enough between waterings.  While phals. do love moisture around their roots, they do not like constant wetness so it is best to water when the potting medium is barely moist.  

I hope this has helped but if you have any other questions or want additional information about the above, write back and I'll try to answer them.  

Good luck and good growing.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.