Someone refuses to grow in the pot

[MateoinLosAngeles]

Does anyone feel like Phals are like bratty teenagers that will do whatever they want?

Here’s a Phal White Dream “V3” bought from a Hausermann sale growing roots way up in the stem.

These sale white dreams are usually sold after their third blooming. This one was $5.99. I’ve seen these sales in May and September. Great to experiment with.

[MateoinLosAngeles]

Better pics:

[Ray]

1. New root environment requires new roots.
2. The lowest leaf is being used as a source of water/energy/nutrients/fuel while it grows more.
3. Roots growing from higher up will help mechanically stabilize the plant.

[Louis_W]

I have a phal a lot like that in SH. When the roots get longer you can gently hook them inside the lip of the pot and they will grow into the media. I dont have any humidity so any roots that dont make it into the media dont get too far

[realoldbeachbum]

Mateo - How did you get those awesome pics to appear correctly positioned (vertically, not horizontally)? Thanks!

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Louis_W

I have a phal a lot like that in SH. When the roots get longer you can gently hook them inside the lip of the pot and they will grow into the media. I dont have any humidity so any roots that dont make it into the media dont get too far

As an experiment - back when I actually had space in the greenhouse - I put phalaenopsis into s/h pots having the same diameter as the leaf span, or a bit larger. The aerial roots all sank themselves into the LECA farther out from the plant, which made me understand the “mechanical stability” concept.

[Clawhammer]

Could drop it into a deeper pot

[Louis_W]

Sorry if this is sideways, after all these years i still suck at this

This phal is really holding itself down! I steered almost every one of these roots in. I accidentally snapped one but it didnt seem phased

[WaterWitchin]

Every single Phal I have is an unruly teenage brat. All are in spike right now. All are aerial root climbing everywhere again after all just being repotted last spring (semi-hydro).

Phals are the perfect example of an orchid that wants to be mounted, and will fight you to get what it wants. Several have decided to reach out and crawl into another pot. I'm seriously thinking of just throwing them all back onto some mounts and letting them have at it. Throw one or two of the auto-misters over them and occasionally wave at them as I walk by. Already have my holey Tshirt and battle scares... getting too old and tired to fight with teenagers.

[MateoinLosAngeles]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Phals are the perfect example of an orchid that wants to be mounted.

If only I had the space. We're moving to a new, bigger apartment but still no balcony or patio. I doubt management will let me place my mounted orchids on the rooftop. Otherwise, I really don't like the idea of mounting in Los Angeles, the plants would most likely need daily watering, misters would very likely splash on the walls, and then draining all that water... A mess...

I'm considering creating my own ikea cabinet terrarium as many on Youtube and Reddit have done, but my plan was to only include hot humid loving orchids like Bellina, Violacea, Tetraspis, Modesta... It could look really cool. Having the cabinet I might consider mounting them but even in the terrarium I might keep them in S/H in case the experiment doesn't work and I bring them back to my growing area.

---------- Post added at 02:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:06 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Louis_W

This phal is really holding itself down!

Huh, for some reason I can't see the picture but when I quote you I can see the link!