Repot after root loss

[Noni]

Hi everyone

Long time reader, first time poster.

I have a phal, which I bought in very broken down bark potting media, but it was very happy and healthy nonetheless. Even so, I couldn’t bear it and repotted it in mid-2020 in bark. It lost all of its roots except a few aerial roots, and I kept it alive by soaking its aerial roots intermittently. It’s since recovered and just finished blooming for the first time since, although is still stunted in growth (leaves and flower stem about half the size as before). And it has a few good healthy roots but not a lot.

The roots it does have are growing out the bottom of the pot (through the ventilation holes). And it’s been 1.5 years but the bark looks ok. Do you think I should repot it soon or leave it be? And if so, should I use a smaller pot because it has few roots, or larger pot because the roots are growing out the bottom, or the same size pot?

Advice much appreciated.

[Dimples]

Congratulations on saving the plant and getting it to rebloom!

Given the history of the plant, I’d be choosing to repot it. Bark that’s still ok after 1.5 years could be nearing the end of its structural life. No sense leaving it in bark that could turn into soup over the next 6 months.

Pot size - pick a pot that the roots will just fit comfortably in. For my phals, I don’t want to have to struggle and really cram the roots into a pot, but it should take a little bit of arranging to fit all the roots in there. Once you have the old media removed, if the roots aren’t going into the new pot easily, you can soak the roots for 30min up to a few hours to make them more flexible to work into the new pot.

Make sure the bark doesn’t have a lot of fine particles (dust, little splinter bits, etc.). If it does, sift or rinse it well so all you have left are bark chunks/pieces.

[WaterWitchin]

Dimples gives you good advice. I'd soak it for about a half hour or so before removing from pot. And as Dimples says, remove small debris from the new mix.

Are you fertilizing at all?

[Dimples]

Also, if any of the old bark pieces are firmly attached to the roots, leave them. Epiphyte roots are adapted to grab/latch on to tree trunks and hold on for dear life. Trying to remove securely affixed pieces of bark will do more harm than good.

After you remove the bulk of the old mix and give the roots a rinse if individual bark pieces don't come off with a gentle wiggle, leave it alone. A dozen or so pieces of old bark going into the new pot aren't going to hurt the plant.

[Noni]

Thanks for all your advice. I'll either put it back in the same pot or in a smaller pot when I see how it fits.

Yes, I'm fertilising it with some liquid orchid fertiliser, which it liked a lot before the root loss.