My Phal. is climbing out of the pot

[Austin Powers]

The NoID phal that I have had for the past three years is becoming too large for its pot. It is hanging out the side, I need a counter-weight to keep it upright. I plan to repot after the current bloom. Can I stand it upright in a larger pot, or should I leave it in its more side-lying orientation in the larger pot?

In general is there a way to promote straight up growth?? It seems that all of my phals. want to lean over as they grow new leaves.
Thank you,
Stephen

[Austin Powers]

I apologize, my question is very similar to the previous thread which I just read after posting.
Thanks in advance for any replies

[mehitabel]

put the whole plant, pot and all, in a bigger clay pot for the time being.

When you repot, cut off any of the stem that is rootless, and use an approrpiate pot size.

Many, but not all phals do try to grow sideways. Doritis hybrids are mostly upright, but those with violacea in them try very hard to grow sideways. This is healthy for vios, because they are susceptible to crown rot, and the slanting crown helps keep water out.

However, I do straighten mine from time to time. I use a styrofoam peanut (or fragment of peanut) tucked under the crown to straighten it *a little*. Use a very soft hand, and raise it a very little at a time, maybe 1/4". You don't want to break the crown.

You can also give up and let them grow the way they want to . Nature always wins, anyway.

[Gwenchanter]

I've decided that the ones that like to grow sideways are probably better off that way so I ususally repot them at the same attiude they were growing in before. It's also helpful for when the inflorescences grow out because they can be trained straight upward and not be blocked by a leaf, as happens many times with upright plants.

[camille1585]

If you are going to repot it anyways, you can try to straignten it up a bit, but it's a lost cause in the long run. It'll just flop over again. They love to grow like that! One of mine loves to grow sideways, so I had to put it's plastic pot inside a clay one to hold it upright!

[Gwenchanter]

Here's a good tip:

Go buy a small bag of small polished river rocks and then when you repot, put 3-4 of them in the opposite side of the bottom of the pot to counterbalance it. If you are using clear pots they look really pretty and water still drains through them very well. I always use styrofoam peanuts on the other side of the pot underneeth the bark or sphag medium for drainage too but it's so light if I don't use rocks the plants tip over. I think I got mine at home depot but you can buy them at pet stores that sell tropical fish, and sometimes hobby stores too. Pretty marbles might work too but use a few more of them!