Where do i go from here...?(Phal repot)

[Lene Th.]

I got this lovely phal from my mother in law today, this one shes had for a long time, probably many years, as this was one of the oldest she had.
I dont belive its ever been repotted, but it seems really healthy anyway.
But i do belive it has outgrown its pot...

From what i can see thru the clear pot, theres a lot of healthy roots, many new ones and a lot of new growth on the old ones as well. And quite a few has gone airborn.
Actally, the hole plant seems like thats its intention, getting it self airborn!

Well, im going to repot this thingy, but im not quite sure how and where to start... The plant is not that big, but its high, and i belive the roots are more massive than the plant it self. I dont want to cut any living roots, but then i probably will need a deep pot...
Should i barry all the roots, and only let the leafs be above the surfase? Or..?

Some pics may show why i see this as a problem...

[CoolPhrog]

Hello!

I found a thread that Marty posted a while back. It's a culture sheet for Phals.

Phalaenopsis

Then I found this one specifically about repotting orchids. Hope this helps!

Repotting

Great looking plant though!

[priz_m]

Wow Lene Th. that is indeed a very healthy phal, I've never seen any like that jejejeje all I can say is wow! :rlol:

Perhaps since it likes being airborne, you should consider mounting it instead of repotting, that way it can go root crazy

just my 2c

Priz

[Lene Th.]

Thanks!
But i have repotted a few ones before, its just that this one has outgrown its pot, and seems to be airborn at any time
And i wonder how to "attac" this, as its starting to look a little like a small tree...
Do i barry the hole thing in medium, only letting the plant/leafs rest on top of it, or should i let it be like this, only replace the media and mabe find a pot one size bigger, to fit the root-mass in there?

As a have most of my other chids in S/H, i was also thinking about repotting this one into S/H... but i do belive its used to pretty dry conditions, as my mother in law use to water about three dinner-spoons a week...

Priz, thats a thought...
Mabe thats the way to go with this one...?

[Ross]

When I looked at the photos, I immediately thought "what's the problem!" You have an immense root structure for a plant this size! I would repot into a larger pot and include all the roots (keep in mind I use a very coarse fir bark medium with lots of air spaces.) If possible keep using a clear pot (well, milky) to keep checking on condition of medium and roots.

[priz_m]

Lene, Ross I am very curious as to how you'll carry this repotting, I have a question though, perhaps is more directed for Ross , will the aerial roots be harmed by the repotting?

I am impressed

[Lene Th.]

*lol*
I feel like am afraid to even tutch the plant, and im struggeling to decide what medium to use...
Im used to medium bark, but i also have good luck with S/H and the chids that i mounted looks really happy too...

I will try to find a bigger clear pot as a starter, and have to work up the guts to decide medium and repot...

[Lene Th.]

I did not find a clear pot, the only one i had was a black.
As i suspected, the root-mass was massive, and there was no rotten roots, only a few shriveled one that i trimmed away.
Heres a pic after the trim.


I spread out the roots as well as i could, but theyre grown into each other, so i used some big bark around the rootmass to make them more "potbound", and filled with medium around to stabilize. I used a homemixed made of large and medium bark, leca, coconut husk and some sphagnum.
Some of the largest air-roots got down in the mix, and i used some larger bark to cover them from the media, trying not to suffocate them. All the smaller air-roots are still air-born.

Heres pics after the finishing.

[priz_m]

Lene, your phal looks good!

Great repotting job!