Recently removed/potted Phal keiki

[Iggamus]

I have had my first orchid (it's name is Eddie) for about 4 years this past winter Eddie started growing a keiki. The keiki grew two small leaves & two two ft+ roots.I remembered reading about the 3x3x3 rule, so I impatiently waited. Sadly both Eddie and keiki went dormant until about a month ago. The keiki took off like crazy, but Eddie started to whither. I removed the keiki and Eddie recovered immediately & already has a new leaf on the way. However the keiki only had two giant roots that wouldn't fit in the pot without breaking or being cot and one tiny three inch root. I potted it by the tiny root, it's clear it's not taking in enough nutrients. Not sure what to do. I was thinking about cutting the long roots so that they could fit in the pot, but my instincts are screaming not to. Any advice is welcome 😁

[Roberta]

First, Welcome

Don't cut the long roots! Phals like to have aerial roots. Mist those big roots - they are the ones supporting the life of the plant. You can put a bit of fertilizer in the water that you mist with once a week or so, but that's not terribly important - orchids are very light feeders.

You don't say where you live, but if you have good humidity, so much the better. (now that it is summer, with some shade a Phal can be very happy outside in much of the US.) The more humid the better. Humans may hate it but to orchids, it reminds them of home.

[Iggamus]

Thank you Roberta. I'm a newb & didn't think about misting the the roots. I feel kinda dumb 😅 They are potted inside in medium humidity, but it is VERY humid right now where I live. Do you think I should give them some outside time?

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[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Iggamus

Thank you Roberta. I'm a newb & didn't think about misting the the roots. I feel kinda dumb 😅 They are potted inside in medium humidity, but it is VERY humid right now where I live. Do you think I should give them some outside time?

There are no dumb questions (except for the ones that aren't asked). Nobody is born knowing any of this stuff!

If it is humid outside and the nights are staying above 65 deg F. (which I suspect they are) the plant will be quite happy outside. Just keep it on the shady side, away from any direct sun.

Just a side note about Phalaenopsis in general... in nature (Philippines and other islands in the same neighborhood) they grow attached to the sides and branches of trees, roots completely in the air. They get rained on pretty much every day, then the surface water dries up with the rain stops. ("Fertilizer" consists of nutrients leached from rotting detritus above them... very very dilute) It is hot and humid. We put them in pots for aesthetics and to make cultivation on a commercial scale efficient. Yours seems to want to just go natural. Enjoy!

[DrDawn]

I don't think there is a thing as too much humidity for a Phal, as long as there is air movement! It is more the sun that you have to be careful of, they get sunburned easily.

You can mist the roots, that's a great idea!

When I repot, I often have long roots. Sometimes I soak mine for like 30 min or an hour to make the roots more pliable and then I coil them into the pot.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Originally Posted by Roberta

There are no dumb questions (except for the ones that aren't asked). Nobody is born knowing any of this stuff!

If it is humid outside and the nights are staying above 65 deg F. (which I suspect they are) the plant will be quite happy outside. Just keep it on the shady side, away from any direct sun.

Just a side note about Phalaenopsis in general... in nature (Philippines and other islands in the same neighborhood) they grow attached to the sides and branches of trees, roots completely in the air. They get rained on pretty much every day, then the surface water dries up with the rain stops. ("Fertilizer" consists of nutrients leached from rotting detritus above them... very very dilute) It is hot and humid. We put them in pots for aesthetics and to make cultivation on a commercial scale efficient. Yours seems to want to just go natural. Enjoy!

for example...

I just made this mini-Phal "mount" (not yet LOL) for my sister

Roots, flowers and moss by J Solo, on Flickr

it will turn out to the side as it grows and the new roots will attach to the mount (a palm section here)

granted, i live in a swamp so it is slightly different here

where are you located?

oh, welcome