Horizontal phal?

[MisterGuy]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

You can grow it any way you want Dusty. I grow them all hanging down, as it avoids water sitting in the crown which can cause crown rot. Probably why they grow that way in nature (Mother Nature knows her stuff.) If they're inside and you water carefully, it doesn't matter. If they go outside and you get a lot of rain, it might. Or sit under an auto-mister, like some of mine do.

Seeing them upright in the stores is for the commercial breeder, who's packing as many as they can into a smaller space, and for ease of sleeving to ship them.

One of mine that's growing the best is basically a table cloth in shape. I'm sorta having to grow the flower spikes in a big "s" shape to stake them, because they are growing from stem that's flopped over the edge. Do you typically make sure the blooms are facing the same direction as the leaves? I'm having to train them back over the pot and then will have to let them curve back to accomplish that at all, otherwise, I'm worried it will look really unbalanced and awkward. Having the leaves facing away from the blooms would be easier, but seems poor form. Thoughts?

[Roberta]

When plants want to grow pendant, I just let them do it. Not only is the natural orientation of Phal plants sideways or upside down, the flowers are then pendant. Maybe try just letting them go where they want, in a graceful arch.

[WaterWitchin]

Yup, same as Roberta. I always plant pendant to begin with, then just let them do their thing. I can't think of any orchid where I regularly stake the bloom.

[MisterGuy]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Yup, same as Roberta. I always plant pendant to begin with, then just let them do their thing. I can't think of any orchid where I regularly stake the bloom.

Really? I feel like I'd almost surely break them off somehow before they bloom.

[Orchidtinkerer]

in the wild they can grow upside down, they will just always lean their crown towards the highest light source like a solar panel wanting to maximise the light it receives.
I rotate them to make them grow in the direction I want.

I have heard this can cause stress as the plant has to invest energy to rotate it's leaves which some varieties do do ridiculously slowly so I am aware I might be causing a bit of stress but it's worth it so the plant doesn't grow sideways out of the pot which takes up more space and doesn't look as good to me.

[Roberta]

One caution there... and the technique does work. (People do the same for Catts to get a better display)... once the spike starts, no more rotating...it will also chase the light leading to unaesthetic twists and turns.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by Dusty Ol' Man

Thanks for that. I have had mounted orchids and tillandsias in the past, so this wouldn't be new, but I'm glad to hear any suggestions anytime. One day soon I will post pics from a photo album of my makeshift greenhouse. This was before computers and cellphones. Yes, I really am that old!

I finally found the picture album. Here are a few of the successes I had with this converted back porch/laundry room.

[reverseboB]

The issue I have with the pendant phals is they eventually pull themselves out of the pot. I have two phals overhanging their pots and slowly the root ball for lack of a better terminology is being pulled up. Hoping for an early spring so I can repot them into a better position.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by reverseboB

The issue I have with the pendant phals is they eventually pull themselves out of the pot. I have two phals overhanging their pots and slowly the root ball for lack of a better terminology is being pulled up. Hoping for an early spring so I can repot them into a better position.

Phals are growing and rooting pretty much all the time, so you can pot them pretty much whenever you want to. No need to wait for spring.