What are Phalaenopsis growth habits?

[phalaephila]

I have a young plant of Phal. (syn. Dtps.) Dyah Redita (Dor. pulcherrima x Phal. Grand Condé) which is growing the same way as your plant. I searched for a long time to find the perfect way to pot up this plant, and last spring I found it at an orchid show in Santa Barbara, CA. A vendor was offering these tree fern pots which can be sitting or hanging. I didn't want to remove the lower leaves, but I wanted the new roots to find a hold somehow.

This orchid has really taken to this pot, the roots are growing down and into the pot (not just into the medium). I don't know if it is a good thing or not, but there will be no repotting this puppy. Actually, it works for me as the plant is half potted, half mounted; some of my other phals are growing the same way in clay pots with roots in and all around the pots. I look forward to Dyah Redita climbing all over the pot.

Jeanne

[mehitabel]

quiltergal-- about cutting the stem of your tallish "two-halves" phal

Bob Gordon, *Culture of the Phalaenopsis Orchid* recommends what he calls "lowering" phals as they get too tall.

He recommends this because he believes they do best in shallower, "azalea-type" pots, no more than 5" deep.

In order to be able to fit in the azalea pot, he cuts off any old rootless stem, or any part of the stem with worthless roots on it. This allows him to put it in a smaller pot, with obvious health benefits. He concentrates on keeping and nurturing the newest, best roots.

Orchids with a lot of doritis influene grow long underground stems, and are often in need of this treatment.

So I think cutting your phal stem into two parts-- the part with new roots starting and the other tag-along part makes sense.

You could keep the tag=along part, at least for a while, since it does have roots. It might sprout a new top.

[Blueszz]

As promised a from a Phalaenopsis which had no functional roots in the medium.
I guided the 'aerial' roots into fresh medium and kept it a lot dryer than my other Phal's. In three months time it grew a new leaf (not as yellowish as in the picture!) and several new roots on what were 'aerial' roots before :-)
As you can see I still don't water much, but it thrives!





Nicole

[quiltergal]

OK here is my very weird looking Brother Sara 'Gold'. I'm not sure of the age of this plant. I've had it less than a year so I think it might be pretty long in the tooth. As you can see the upper part of the plant is sending out loads of new roots. The new growth is also contorted so I'm wondering if the lower half is no longer supporting the upper half. Maybe once the upper roots get established in the medium it will start to grow normally. It doesn't seem to have affected it's ability to flower. It's currently sending up a spike from the "new" half. The roots in the pot look great too, so I'm really mystified.

Meant to say thanks Mehitabel. So what do you think? Could I safely "top" this guy in the spring and see what happens?

[Blueszz]

Terri, I don't know about topping this plant. I think I wouldn't do that. The reason for the new leaves being smaller could be a root problem, nutrient problem...etc I think others have more knowledge about this than I have (considder me as a beginner).
I think the plant looks beautiful the way it is. I think topping it would set it back in the amount of flowers it can produce?

[Blueszz]

Terri, I wonder how your plant looks like at this moment? What did you do with it, or maybe you left it as is?

[quiltergal]

I left it as is. It seems happy enough to send out a spike which is close to blooming. So I guess it will just be an ugly plant with pretty flowers for now.

[Blueszz]

At this point we disaggree, I think your plant is beautiful!

Once it's flowering, can you show us some new pictures? I would love to see it in flower!

Btw, the plant with the 'aerial' roots in the pot is still growing nice and healthy. The 'aerial' roots are still in good shape.

[Blueszz]

I have an update about the Phalaenopsis below. It started a second leaf and today I discovered (what I think is) a spike
To0 early to be sure, but the location of that new growth + the shape tells me it must be a spike.
This plant was left with no functional roots (09.15.08), only 'aerials' which I potted.
My Dad (who drowned the plant) kept asking if it didn't flower yet, and I kept him telling that it might be fall before it even attempted to produce a spike

Nicole

Originally Posted by Blueszz

As promised a from a Phalaenopsis which had no functional roots in the medium.
I guided the 'aerial' roots into fresh medium and kept it a lot dryer than my other Phal's. In three months time it grew a new leaf (not as yellowish as in the picture!) and several new roots on what were 'aerial' roots before :-)
As you can see I still don't water much, but it thrives!





Nicole

[lostonthebeach]

Thanks for the update. Don't forget to post new pictures.