What are Phalaenopsis growth habits?

[Blueszz]

I'll do that as soon as the spike (at least what I think it is) is a bit larger, or when the second leaf shows itself better.

[Hedge]

A fascinating thread and very informative for us newbies - I have several Phals that are producing lots of aerial roots including one which although repotted last year heaved itself over side ways and has a dry brown end sticking out above the medium, green roots from the underside in the medium and aerial ones above!

It also has two flower spikes, one it came with last summer which has just finished and one that it grew last autumn. These are both vertically upright at 90 degrees to the stem. Epiphytes, don't ya just love 'em - cling on and go for it

[mehitabel]

Clay pots are good, but they aren't necessary to stabilize a plant.

If you use bark or CHC chips, 6" aircone pots are really wonderful for phals.

Aircones are clear plastic pots with an "aircone" in the center to help aerate the center of the pot, which can stay too wet.

The pots are square and very sturdy, also not easily tipped. If you "lower" the plant by cutting off any rootless stem at the bottom of the plant, the 6" aircones will keep your plant steady and it will not tip. The 6" are supposed to be strong enough to stand on (no, I haven't tried it)

FYI, I burn about a dozen extra holes in the bottom of 6" pots for phals because the pots are so big-- more aeration for the roots. The phals in pots with extra holes do better.

[Blueszz]

Originally Posted by mehitabel

FYI, I burn about a dozen extra holes in the bottom of 6" pots for phals because the pots are so big-- more aeration for the roots. The phals in pots with extra holes do better.

I have to agree with that, at least for the climate in the Netherlands that the plants benefit from extra holes in the pot. Recently I potted a Phal. in a square pond basket. This Phal. almost lost all of it's roots during a s/h experiment. The roots that are left are not that impressive . I have to keep it on the dry side until it makes some new roots. Can't wait to see what the results are from culture in the pond basket.