Question about Phal. pot....

[Christina0701]

Hello, I am very new to Orchids and just realized that phal. (sold to me as mini could be amabilis) is not in a clear pot like my other phal. It is planted directly in a non glazed terracotta pot with one hole in the bottom. Isn't this wrong? Won't this dry out the orchid? I like the fact that my other phal. has the clear pot so i can check the roots and the dryness. Should I re-pot? It seems fine and bloomed a fourth flower today but I've only had it for a week or so. I feel like it needs more air then one hole according to what I have read. Thanks.

[RosieC]

I think some people do grow Phals in terracotta pots, so I think it would be OK.

I'm guessing it may mean you have to water more often.

Having said that if you are happy with how to water with clear pots (just like me) you probably are best to put it in the sort of pot you like, rather than risk over/under watering in an enviroment you are not used to.

If it was me I would repot within a month or so, just to get it into an enviroment I am used to dealing with.

[jkofferdahl]

A clay pot of that sort is fine. I use them for some of my Phals. The clear plastic pots are excellent in that they allow you to keep an eye on what's going on inside of the pot, and for that reason alone I like them. But a clay pot with just one hole is also fine, so long as that one hole allows the pot to drain. The key (aside from drainage) is to know when the plant's media is dry enough to water.

[m_ms09]

I personally am not a fan of plastic pots because of the amount of moisture they trap. I like my Phals getting as much air and drainage as possible!

Here's one of my Phals, in a terra cotta pot and sphagnum:


I water it when the sphagnum becomes dry and crunchy which usually takes over a week or so.

The plus side of plastic see through pots aside from being able to see what's going on in there is that Phal roots (as with most epiphytic orchid roots) are able to make use of light by photosynthesis and produce energy for the plant

[Sandy4453]

You are thinking like a well knowledged grower, Christina. You're absolutely right to be concerned about the air exchange your Phal is receiving. Plastic or clay is a personal choice and both will derive great results when you grow your orchids and adjust the watering according to what you choose to grow them in. That one hole at the bottom of the pot is not ideal for orchids because of the importance of good air flow needed. There are clay pots made specifically for orchid growing; you can find them anywhere and plastic is probably the most popular to grow Phals in and as one other poster noted, retains water, longer. The good thing about that is moisture retention = drying slower = watering less often than if they're planted in clay. If you've got fresh medium, I would advise you to re-pot your plant now. You don't have to wait until it's done blooming. Phals can be re-potted at any time during their growth, it won't hurt the blooming.