Phal potting depth - Orchid Board

grasshopper · #1 12-03-2010, 04:06 PM

I have a new NOID Phal that is currently potted in a 5" plastic pot in moss. When blooming is over, I plan to repot, but have a question regarding how deep I can pot it. As you can see from the picture below, it has a long "neck" and has some new aerial roots growing out just below the lower leaf. (It appears it once had more lower leaves that have fallen off, thus the long "neck".) Can I set the plant a little deeper into the medium (so that the lower leaf is about 1" above the medium) when I repot so that these new roots might be tempted to grow down into the medium?

I have never come across this issue in my brief span of growing orchids, so I thought I'd ask for some expert advice.

Thanks!

RosieC · #2 12-03-2010, 04:35 PM

I would pot that down so that the base of the lowest leaf is just down at the medium level. The arial roots will probably then be just touching, or with their tips just into the medium.

A problem might be the pot size. To be able to get that in as it stands a deep enough pot may be too wide. If you can get a tall pot that would be good, otherwise I would acutally be tempted to cut some of the lower roots to get it to sit lower... I think that's what the profesionals do but I still find it hard to do, in this case it may be better than putting it in too big a pot. I think you may have to see what roots are left after removing dead ones to see what pot size suits.

grasshopper · #3 12-03-2010, 05:38 PM

Hmmm...I had not thought about a tall skinny pot. I think I have a few of those in the garage. Might not be an issue though once I can get a good look at the roots. The roots that I can see in the pot look firm and green, but I won't know about the interior until I get it out of its current pot. May have to cut off some dead/rotted roots, which may make it easier to find a suitable pot.

I also have a very hard time cutting off healthy roots, but for the overall sake of the plant sometimes it's what you gotta do!

Thanks!

camille1585 · #4 12-03-2010, 05:51 PM

Yup, it definitely needs to go lower down in the pot. I guess deciding how to go about it will largely depend on how much dead stuff you remove. If you really can't pot it up then you could always try mounting it. But then you need to be very diligent about watering!

tucker85 · #5 12-03-2010, 07:55 PM

The old part of the main stem probably extends pretty low into that pot. I would cut off the bottom of the main stem and any dead roots. You can trim some good roots also if necessary but I usually try to leave as many of the live roots as possible. Then pot it down to the normal depth in the smallest pot that will accomidate it.