?? Please watch the video??

[james mickelso]

You are correct Bob. There are thousands of bonsai that are over a hundred years old and have had their roots cut many times. Same thing can be done with orchids. Cutting off roots does no harm to the orchid as long as it is done correctly. Just because an orchid has a great root system, there can be times when it isn't doing it any good and can actually be detrimental to it. I sometimes get phals and other orchids that have such extensive root systems that the plant is in bad shape because it is too leggy. Better to cut off the extra roots than let it continue to deteriorate. The plant will grow just fine given good cultural care. My reason for writing what I did was to let who ever wants to try it that it is ok. Hence the bonsai analogy. In their natural setting, orchids go through many trials. They lose roots and leaves and still survive. We can learn from their natural tendencies and use that knowlege to keep them healthy. On the bonsai theme, look up a guy named Masahiko Kimura and see the extraordinary things he does with bonsai. It will amaze you. As for orchids, I have started trying to wire flower spikes just like I did with branches on my bonsai trees to get them in a different position to better accentuate the beauty of the flowers. If it works I will post pictures. If it works I know I will have the orchid world beat me up too. But change can be a good thing.

[FairyInTheFlowers]

I am sorry James, but that is the most ridiculously preposterous thing I have ever heard!!! As little as I know about bonsai, I know that the roots and leaves are regularly trimmed to keep the plant small and to develop its shape to the growers desire. Orchids are not bonsai, and if you were to ask any real orchid grower what the key to a healthy orchid is, they will most likely tell you that a large, healthy root system is the key. To even give notion that having too many healthy roots is detrimental to the growth of an orchid is absolutely absurd!!! Growing an excellent root system in a pot is what every grower strives for, and now your trying to say we can throw that out the window cause too many healthy roots can hurt a plant? This is the kind of absurd information and thoughts that I will meet and destroy if there is no truth to it, so no one will be mislead.

[Wynn Dee13]

Cody- You are being way too narrow minded. James isn't saying that it is better to cut off EVERY orchids large root system. He is saying in SOME instances it is necessary and can help the plant. Not every plant with a large root system has a GOOD root system. This is what I have been trying to get accross. Not EVERY orchid is the same when it comes to repotting. You are acting like we are telling every person that reads this to hack off all their orchids roots. I am not recommending that. I was only saying that it is not unheard of to take drastic measures sometimes in orchid culture like the German lady showed in the video.

As far as you destroying "absurd" information that has no truth to it so new people don't get mislead, how do you know there is no truth to this method? You are only going off of what you have learned and I bet you know a lot more about orchids than some people twice your age but being 16 I would say you still have a lot to learn. I mean people who have grown orchids for 35 years still are learning. I'm still learning. Open your mind and remember there is more than one way to do things in every aspect of the orchid world.

I really enjoy your enthusiasm in the world of orchids and I think you are a great asset to the orchid community. I wish more of the younger generations cared about orchids as much as you do!

[Wynn Dee13]

They look good to me. Very healthy. They don't look over potted or potted too high. From what I saw of the roots they look fine. The plants leaves are supposed to be that big. What is too big to you? The leaves? Or the roots? The leaves are not going to get smaller. When was the last time they were repotted? From what I see on your pictures and if the medium isn't decomposed I would leave them be. To get them to bloom you might want to try more light or give them a cooler temperature for a few weeks. The drop in temperature usually makes them spike. I don't really know what you mean about them being too big for you.

[Shinnok]

The Phal on the ceramic pot. i think the pot look too big. I am aware if they are big is fine. I have yet to repot them since i got them. I only repotted the one on Ceramic pot. They have been sitting near my window i kept my windows open at night. Now keeping my fingers cross as 1 of them look like it spiking.

Shinn

[Call_Me_Bob]

Originally Posted by Shinnok

The Phal on the ceramic pot. i think the pot look too big. I am aware if they are big is fine. I have yet to repot them since i got them. I only repotted the one on Ceramic pot. They have been sitting near my window i kept my windows open at night. Now keeping my fingers cross as 1 of them look like it spiking.

Shinn

Your plants all look very healthy! Well done!!

As for pot size, the size of the pot should be chosen according to the amount of roots. You should find a lot that is slightly larger then the root mass and that allows for 1-2 years of growth.

Without seeing how many roots the phal had when it was unpotted, then I cant really say if the pot is too large or not.

[Shinnok]

Thank you thank you.

Well i think i made a mistake... It has enough roots bound on the normal plastic pot much smaller than this ceramic pot with loads of healthy roots but it got too heavy on top and kept on tipping, so i went and get something bigger and heavier lol.

Ended up bigger forgetting the fact that if i pot it in a bigger bigger pot, The phal would spend it's time growing instead of putting out spike. I think I am patience enough. Just am glad to know that it's still growing rather than dying. (Alway checking on it's root growing between the leaf...)

Shinnok

[Bud]

the pot is not too big...its just right for growing into a couple of years worth...
the rest of your plants do not need repot
keep up the good work...I hope your orchids increase in numbers...whatever youre doing...is making your plants happy

[Shinnok]

Haha i am trying to increase my numbers lol. I am alway tempting to get one on my way back from School or if something caught my eyes. I just got 1 on Saturday when i was in the city center lol. But i am running out of space lol. I will need to clean my room to see if i got more space :P

Shin

[Shinnok]

Question, I have been reading up on Phal and some website suggest used teabags too. I am wondering why used Teabags good for Phalaenopsis...