Horizontal phal?

[Dusty Ol' Man]

I have read here somewhere that phals like to grow horizontally. I have two in terra cotta pots. One sits upright. The other wants to lay on its side. I have a stake behind it holding it up some. Is it OK to leave this way?

[rbarata]

In nature, Phals grow on tree trunks. The most natural positon for them is leaning to the side.

[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.

[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?

[DirtyCoconuts]

what WW said, x2

[Dollythehun]

Or you could simply repot it sitting upright...

[SouthPark]

D.O.L. ------- I think the phals can even lean toward the light ----- if the light is generally coming mainly from one direction. So, with that stake left in that same spot ..... another thing you could try is to rotate the pot half-a-turn (ie. 180 degrees). And the plant's new leaves and future leaves and stem, may start inching back toward the centre of the pot. It is 'compensation'.

It is true that in general ----- phals in the wild generally are not orientated in the way they are in many house-holds ----- ie. 'upright'. The leaves of wild phals in the wild are hanging side-ways etc.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to leave it alone for now. If the time ever comes I may mount it. Then it will look more natural.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Dusty Ol' Man

Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to leave it alone for now. If the time ever comes I may mount it. Then it will look more natural.

I have found that Phals grow very well mounted! Especially in your humidity, that would be a great approach.

[WaterWitchin]

Yup... phals are an excellent first mounting project to see if you like it. Very forgiving.