Phal has overgrown ceramic pot- break it or let it ride

[Roberta]

That Phal is growing like a mounted plant. It's happy, go with the flow. I'd suggest just shaking out any medium that comes out easily, leave the rest. With that much air space in the pot, I don't think rot on the remaining bits of bark should be a problem. You could add some fresh bark, but with south Florida humidity I don't think it's necessary. The plant is doing well, the pot is attractive and clearly provides air flow that the plant likes... nothing broken, nothing to fix.

[DirtyCoconuts]

i have discovered this as well...slowly....i was able to get the others out of the deco pots and into some terracotta with really open medium...mostly inorganic too...i figure that ill allow me to grow up with much less disturbance in the future.

thanks for the advice guys ….ill post up how the prject goes once these flowers are done
Plants, yo by J Solo, on Flickr

[Mountaineer370]

I see so many beautiful ceramic orchid pots out there, but I keep all of mine in clear plastic for the simple reason I would hate to have to break such a nice pot. When I repot, I figure if I have to cut the plastic pot, I'm only out a couple of bucks. If I want a plant to look a little nicer, say, for example, if I'm taking one to my society's meeting, I will put the plastic pot into something more decorative just for the day. I guess it may end up being you have to decide between breaking the pot or breaking a good number of roots to get that plant out of the pot.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer370

I see so many beautiful ceramic orchid pots out there, but I keep all of mine in clear plastic for the simple reason I would hate to have to break such a nice pot. When I repot, I figure if I have to cut the plastic pot, I'm only out a couple of bucks. If I want a plant to look a little nicer, say, for example, if I'm taking one to my society's meeting, I will put the plastic pot into something more decorative just for the day. I guess it may end up being you have to decide between breaking the pot or breaking a good number of roots to get that plant out of the pot.

the pot will be destroyed before i do any significant damage to the plant- priorities, yo

i will try SouthPark's idea and hope to find a less daunting task once i soak it and get inside the pot to investigate....if the roots that go down and out of the holes and wrap around the drip tray are still alive and viable...bang bang Maxwell's silver hammer

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

the pot will be destroyed before i do any significant damage to the plant- priorities, yo

i will try SouthPark's idea and hope to find a less daunting task once i soak it and get inside the pot to investigate....if the roots that go down and out of the holes and wrap around the drip tray are still alive and viable...bang bang Maxwell's silver hammer

But why take it out, as long as it's rooting so well where it is? And Chewie looks pretty happy to be part of the action, too. We put Phals in pots to make them adapt to our living areas, especially when those areas are decidedly non-tropical. But if we happen to live someplace where they can do what comes naturally, enjoy!

[DirtyCoconuts]

well i had thought about that exact thing and this was where i got stuck.

it is happy and healthy now. I put it in the pot so i made it adapt rather than mount it and try to treat it like it was in situ....i generally like to get out of the way of my plants but i was worried this would end badly, not soon but perhaps by the time i saw it was unhappy it would be too late?

for most of the orchids i have saved from dumpsters and estate sale and curbs, they have tremendous resilience but i hate to push my luck.

---------- Post added at 05:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:28 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Roberta

But why take it out, as long as it's rooting so well where it is? And Chewie looks pretty happy to be part of the action, too. We put Phals in pots to make them adapt to our living areas, especially when those areas are decidedly non-tropical. But if we happen to live someplace where they can do what comes naturally, enjoy!

nice!

i have a buddy who is into toys and he hates me for that- this is a Chewie figure from my childhood so 1980s, apparently worth a couple bucks and I was like, "not happening, hes protecting my orchid!"

i put all sorts of oddities in my plants and mounts, prisms, tiny marbles, figurines lol I am child

[SouthPark]

If possible ----- get the longest nose heavy-duty tin snips one can find, and just very carefully begin to nibble away at the roots or bark etc around the rim of the pot. No excessive force to be used - to avoid cracking the pot.

Slowly and careful excavation should win out in the end.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

If possible ----- get the longest nose heavy-duty tin snips one can find, and just very carefully begin to nibble away at the roots or bark etc around the rim of the pot. No excessive force to be used - to avoid cracking the pot.

Slowly and careful excavation should win out in the end.

Why remove it and risk breaking good, growing roots? Just remove old bark that is easy to remove, and enjoy a "mounted" plant. It's a happy plant living in a rather tropical climate.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Why remove it and risk breaking good, growing roots? Just remove old bark that is easy to remove, and enjoy a "mounted" plant. It's a happy plant living in a rather tropical climate.

That idea was only related to cases where the grower really wants to remove the plant and a fair portion of roots from the pot without damaging the pot .... and the plant can still survive too.

The O.P. mentioned that the orchid is firmly stuck in the pot, and I think mentioned that even soaking wouldn't help get it out.