Aerial roots galore on Phaleanopsis! What to do?

[Roberta]

Actually, I was talking about the black plastic 1-gallon pots (also used for smaller Cyms, etc) Home Depot also has the terracotta orchid pots with the slits in the sides... those, however, are wider than they are tall. Here, I think we're looking for depth greater than width. Those tall-form plastic pots that Dollythehun mentioned in another thread are great if you can find them. I have some of those tall-form pots that are used extensively by Japanese Cym growers, the smaller ones are also used for the Chinese Cym species. I got a stash of those from an orchid club member who got a large quantity and sold them, and I have found them great for larger Phals (also Aussie Dendrobiums). But thinking of easy availability, the 1 gallon plastic pots are pretty generic.

[swcheng15]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Actually, I was talking about the black plastic 1-gallon pots (also used for smaller Cyms, etc) Home Depot also has the terracotta orchid pots with the slits in the sides... those, however, are wider than they are tall. Here, I think we're looking for depth greater than width. Those tall-form plastic pots that Dollythehun mentioned in another thread are great if you can find them. I have some of those tall-form pots that are used extensively by Japanese Cym growers, the smaller ones are also used for the Chinese Cym species. I got a stash of those from an orchid club member who got a large quantity and sold them, and I have found them great for larger Phals (also Aussie Dendrobiums). But thinking of easy availability, the 1 gallon plastic pots are pretty generic.

Thanks, Roberta, for clarifying. I do have a few of those terra cotta pots with extra holes in the side, but those are too shallow for this particular plant. I'll repot into the black one, though the leaves will look small in comparison (but I guess it's about the roots, not the leaves). I happen to have 2 one gallon pots that I've cleaned up to reuse. I just don't have large bark now, only small.

[Roberta]

Wait until you get some large bark to repot. The plant actually would be fine just placed in the pot and well watered every few days bare-root. The bark will basically be there to hold the plant in place and maintain some humidity in the root zone. Smaller bark will stay too wet. In fact, you could invert a small pot, or even a small net pot, in the middle of the pot, so that you maintain a big air space there, and don't have a soggy, airless area in the middle. Since volume increases as the cube of the radius this approach keeps the volume of bark under control in larger pots.

[swcheng15]

Ah thanks for the tip. I just drilled about 10 holes along the side of the pot as well, to help with air flow. But I'll look for some large bark tomorrow. Thanks, Roberta!