Re-repotting my large Phal - Advice Please - Orchid Board

RosieC · #1 06-20-2009, 08:55 AM

Ok, so the question is, should I re-repot my Phal that I repotted in May?

It has done very well since repotting and the two spikes have continued growing and are forming buds (and side spikes).

This was the first one to be repotted by me which did not then have problems, although others since are also doing well.

BUT...

When I repotted I had great difficulty getting the roots back in the old pot, and I was advised on this thread that I perhaps should have gone up a pot size or two.

Well I now, over a month later, finally have bought some bigger pots. And while this one is doing OK as it is, and while it is developing buds, it looks really packed in there and there are big voids where I could not get any bark in.

SO...

Should I disturb it again and move it to a large pot (proabably keeping the existing medium as it's only a month old)?

Should I leave it in peace at least until it has flowered?

Pilot · #2 06-20-2009, 10:05 AM

Isn't the point of potting so the roots can get moisture and nutrients? I'd say if you are able to provide both in this new pot as is, they leave it. But WOW that is a mass of roots. I'm jealous!

Ray · #3 06-20-2009, 10:16 AM

Don't mess with success.

If the plant is doing well, leave it alone. Personally, I'd have used a pot at least twice that diameter, but it certainly can wait until it needs it again next year.

RosieC · #4 06-20-2009, 10:37 AM

Thanks Ray and Ryan.

A pot twice the size Ray? Well it came out that pot before the first repotting, but it is the biggest mass of roots I have seen on any of my Phals.

My concern has been that there is hardly any bark in the pot and there are several big voids.

The problem was that I just could not get the bark in. You know that test you are meant to do after repotting... when you hold it by the leaves to see if it stays in the pot. Well with this it stayed in the pot before I could got any bark in

Anyway I think I'm managing to water it enough. Running water through the pot does not seem to get all the roots wet enough, but soaking the pot for a few minutes seems to be keeping it well.

It's growing more roots, there are growing root tips all over.

. Not sure it it will last a year in the pot, but I think I will certainly leave it until it has flowered at least, by then it will be later in the year and it will probably not be growing so much.

Just as an aside, here are the two flower stems on it, the second is a lot shorter than the first, but it's still growing. Both have grown no end since the first repotting over a month ago.

tuvoc · #5 06-20-2009, 10:48 AM

That's pretty awesome, Rosie. I agree, leave it alone for now. I've had a few like this, and I found that the voids don't stay that way for long. Those roots can quickly fill them up themselves. By then, you'll HAVE to go for a bigger pot.

Kim

PitcherASAMD · #6 06-20-2009, 10:59 AM

WOW! I am super jealous of all those roots and your two new flower stems! I wish my phals looked like that! Keep doing whatever your doing because it looks like you've got it down! I hope you will post pics once it blooms!

RosieC · #7 06-20-2009, 11:11 AM

Thanks for the kind words about this Phal.

It's the biggest of my Phals and I was really worried that it would die back after repotting like the two I repotted before it. But it has not missed a beat since the repotting and just keeps growing.

WhiteRabbit · #8 06-20-2009, 12:34 PM

Very healthy phal - I am soooo jealous lol!
I agree - if it ain't broke don't fix it!

Remeber - the plant doesn't 'need' a pot at all- thats for our convience. And 'air pockets' in the pot are probably good for the roots too.
Whatever you have been doing your phal seems quite happy with it

Pilot · #9 06-20-2009, 12:34 PM

Rosie what are your growing conditions? Do you grow under lights or is the UK sun strong enough to keep these guys healthy on its own?

As to the voids-- like tuvoc said, they have a way of getting filled by roots anyway. I'm not opposed to voids at all.

So if you are using bark, can I assume you don't use s/h?

RosieC · #10 06-20-2009, 12:47 PM

Hi Ryan,

I've never tried S/H, everything is in bark here.

No lights either, they sit in an east facing window. Full sun for a couple of hours each morning (on clear days) then indirect light the rest of the day. The room they are in has a west facing window 16' away.

When they are flowering they get moved to the center of the room so I can enjoy the flowers on the mantle piece.