Phal won't stay in pot. Help please!

[MrsH530]

I bought a NoID phal recently that is incredibly top heavy. It is in good condition with a lot of roots, but the plant is leaning heavily to the side and it's 2 spikes are leaning to the same side as the plant. This is creating enough weight that I can't keep it in the pot.

I had repotted it and moved it into a heavier stoneware pot which is at least keep the whole thing upright, but when I got into work this morning I saw the plant itself (not the pot) was hanging precariously over the edge (pulling out of the plastic pot). I've pushed it back down into the pot, but I'm not sure what else to do??? I'm a notorious root rotter, so I'm nervous to pack it in too tightly. Should I remove the spikes and then the next time it spikes train them to go the opposite direction?

I will try to update with a picture at lunch time.

Thanks for your help!

[Island Girl]

Do you have a large pebble, or a rock that you could place on top of the surface of the pot, as a counter-balance? That seems to work for most ppl... This type of thing happens fairly often, and it's always a challenge to keep it in it's pot... Most ppl use the counter-balance. Good Luck! And maybe after seeing the pic, I can advise more? Or someone else who has this prob can advise more... The couple NOIDs that I had, that were large, and leaning, I lost last year to mites... :'( The rock thing always worked for me tho.

[orchidsarefun]

the counter-balance thingy works for the pot.........but it sounds like you also have to anchor the plant. You can use a rhizome clip like this

Orchid Clips, Orchid Plant Stakes, Hooks, Pot Hangers, Wires.

or make something similar yourself..

[RandomGemini]

Why not just order a teak basket and mount it? Saves you from having to put it in media. It will spare you from root rot because it's hard to over water a mounted phal. Just hang the basket in a bright shade spot from a 3M command hook. A large command hook should hold up to 5 pounds.

I know pots are pretty, but the teak baskets can be too and since it's at work and you are there Monday through Friday, you can go in, mist some roots first thing, then sit down and get to work. It could be a good way to decompress from your morning commute!

[MrsH530]

Sorry for the delay in getting pictures posted. They're attached to this post.

To clarify - I don't have a problem with the pot staying upright, I have a problem with the phal staying in the pot.

I prefer not to mount it, and I don't have any place to hang it (I'm in a cubicle with 2 other people), so I need a solution that encourages the plant to stay in the pot.

Thanks for the replies!!

[RandomGemini]

Okay… I see your problem.

Here's the thing. We pot phals upside down. In the wild, the plant grows hanging from a tree well off of the ground, with the flower stems pointing toward the earth. Your phal is just trying to do that.

First thing, the side of the pot that the plant is leaning over, just turn that side away from the light source. That will encourage the plant to grow toward the light and balance itself out.

Second suggestion I have: At best buy they sell these velcro wire ties. We're geeks in my house, so I have a lot of them all over the place and use them for everything from holding the cone of shame on my dog's collar, to keeping my orchid spikes from hanging in the floor where the dogs can chew on them. Go buy a package of these wire ties and wrap one around both of the spikes on your phal. This should allow the weight of the spikes to support each other and keep them from causing the rest of the plant to topple over.

You have a lot of roots in there. Are those just aerial roots, or do you have just as many roots in the plastic pot below? If so, you might wish to move your phal into a larger pot once it's done blooming.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Use wires to hold the plant down into the pot?

---------- Post added at 08:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:43 AM ----------

Maybe get a pot that is much larger and of substantial weight and place the Phal with functional pot and all inside.

[MrsH530]

Originally Posted by RandomGemini

Okay… I see your problem.

Here's the thing. We pot phals upside down. In the wild, the plant grows hanging from a tree well off of the ground, with the flower stems pointing toward the earth. Your phal is just trying to do that.

First thing, the side of the pot that the plant is leaning over, just turn that side away from the light source. That will encourage the plant to grow toward the light and balance itself out.

Second suggestion I have: At best buy they sell these velcro wire ties. We're geeks in my house, so I have a lot of them all over the place and use them for everything from holding the cone of shame on my dog's collar, to keeping my orchid spikes from hanging in the floor where the dogs can chew on them. Go buy a package of these wire ties and wrap one around both of the spikes on your phal. This should allow the weight of the spikes to support each other and keep them from causing the rest of the plant to topple over.

You have a lot of roots in there. Are those just aerial roots, or do you have just as many roots in the plastic pot below? If so, you might wish to move your phal into a larger pot once it's done blooming.

Yes, there are as many roots down below. This guy has loads of them!

Everyone in my office is asking why my plant is to the side like that and I keep telling them that it is how they grow in the wild. No one seems to understand.. lol

I know the kind of wire ties you're talking about. I'll see if we have any extras at home tonight.

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Use wires to hold the plant down into the pot?

---------- Post added at 08:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:43 AM ----------

Maybe get a pot that is much larger and of substantial weight and place the Phal with functional pot and all inside.

Where would I wrap the wire around the plant? Around the crown? I like that idea, I just want to make sure I put it in a good place so I don't damage my plant!

Thanks guys!!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by MrsH530

Yes, there are as many roots down below. This guy has loads of them!

Everyone in my office is asking why my plant is to the side like that and I keep telling them that it is how they grow in the wild. No one seems to understand.. lol

I know the kind of wire ties you're talking about. I'll see if we have any extras at home tonight.




Where would I wrap the wire around the plant? Around the crown? I like that idea, I just want to make sure I put it in a good place so I don't damage my plant!

Thanks guys!!

The root area. Then wrap the wire around the underside of the lip of the pot. See if that works.

[Island Girl]

You could place the pot (the one the phal is actually potted in) into a taller cache pot (by like 3-4 inches taller), so that the lip/side wall of the outer pot pushes/holds the phal more upright.... Does that make sense? The phal can lean on the wall of the outer pot, and be supported by it.

Also, if you want/need some way of tying around the main stem, (like where the leaves have all grown from, & are attached), to something, to pull it back (like a sling, or similar), but need something gentle, that won't cut into the leaves or stem, like wire can do... use panty-hose (old or new, the really cheap kind works perfectly ).... It's also easy to tie into a knot. It is gentle, and will hold firmly, without cutting into the plant's tissue. (just cut one leg into two strips ~ length-wise ~ then in half, or thirds, etc. if need-be... one pair can actually go a long way! I love to use panty-hose for mounts, they work perfectly!)

I think basket planting would be too messy, it's almost too messy for my sunroom (my winter grow-space) that has a concrete floor... So, unless your cubicle-mates like a wet desk... Hehehe J/k