Phrag Repotting Questions

[WaterWitchin]

Need some assistance. I'm repotting a phrag that is much larger than any I've ever repotted. Have cleaned it up pretty well, and don't want to divide.

When unpotting, the roots were a wound up mess (waited too long). Also, I've only been growing a couple of phrags so not much expertise.

Should I trim back more live root? And shown in pics is the pot it was in. Bigger pot? I can't imagine getting enough medium into the pot plus stuffing back all these roots.

First pic is lying on side, second upright.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

[bil]

I like to keep the media as shallow as possible, so that the plant can't be overwatered.

See if you can get a bulb pan or shallow bowl so the the roots can be spread out well.

[Roberta]

Don't trim any live roots. You can run your fingers gently through the mass... any that are actually dead will break off and pull out like old hair, the rest are helping the plant (Phrags need lots of water, so they need lots of roots to supply that) You pretty much can't overwater a Phrag - actually, they're quite happy (unlike most orchids) sitting in a shallow dish with water. What I do is provide a layer (an inch or so, 2-3 cm) of rock at the bottom of the pot, then the roots above that, with medium. You can add bark slowly, tapping the pot as you do, and it will slide around the roots. With that rock layer (which can wick water by capillary action) at about the depth of the water in the saucer or shallow pan, the roots are above the standing water to get air, but can reach into it if they want to (and I have found that they do... and grow out of the holes and into the water) Up-pot to what will accommodate the root ball. You can put an inverted small pot in the middle to create air space in the center of the pot if you wish.

[WaterWitchin]

Thanks. I've been using about a 1-2" layer of LECA in bottom of all pfrags and paphs, which I think is similar to what Roberta is saying. Appears to work real well.

So it does appear a size up pot is needed. Didn't know whether you could knock back pfrag roots like you can a phal. Now I know. Some of those roots were wound three times around or more at the top.

Why air space in the middle? Because of size? Or could I just use more LECA or sponge rock and mound it up prior to placing in pot?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Why air space in the middle? Because of size? Or could I just use more LECA or sponge rock and mound it up prior to placing in pot?

Just because of size, the center of the pot can be rather airless (significant volume without roots). A mound of LECA or sponge rock would accomplish the same thing - just preventing a big hunk of soggy airless bark. Actually, I suspect Phrags would be quite happy in straight LECA if sitting in water... I have a Phrag besseae that I have in straight diatomite in a mesh basket that I grow in a little "fountain" with continuously circulating water (and it has sent roots out into the moving water, seems very happy)In my setup, there IS a bit of organic matter from algae, so it's not a pure inorganic enviromnent. Phrag besseae may be a little different, in that they grow in nature with roots in, or very near, moving water, where most Phrags just like "wet" like seeps and bogs.

[WaterWitchin]

Gotcha. I lost the tag on this, of course, and don't grow many phrags, but do know it's some sort of caudatum sp? to it's name.

I lose tags often. Blame it always on the dogs.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Gotcha. I lost the tag on this, of course, and don't grow many phrags, but do know it's some sort of caudatum sp? to it's name.

I lose tags often. Blame it always on the dogs.

Looks like a happy plant, looking at all those nice roots. You might try putting an additional tag in the bottom of the pot (pencil isn't degraded by water) so that if the visible tag gets knocked out of the pot, you have one where it's harder to lose. I know people with small grandkids who have been saved by that trick.

[bil]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Why air space in the middle? Because of size? Or could I just use more LECA or sponge rock and mound it up prior to placing in pot?

Best solution is to keep rthe media 3 inches deep, absolutely no more than 4.

That way the air can penetrate. In addition I would use an 8" or enen a foot diameter, put a ring of moss around the bottoom of the pot, stick the plant in the mmiddle on an inch of fie bark sieved to remove the fines, then fill the pot with sieved fine bark.

[WaterWitchin]

Sharing an update on my repotting. Four months later it's a very happy camper, and so am I.

Trimmed back roots that were yucky (a technical term). Has about 3" of LECA at bottom of pot, mounded up higher in middle. Then a coarse mix of bark, LECA, very large perlite, and sprinkles of spagnum here and there.

Lost two flowers already, due to old age of one bloom and enthusiastic pup on other.

[Dollythehun]

Very nice and I love your "stained" glass window hanging.