Repotting My Phalaenopsis

[tom_e_boi]

Hi there, new to the forum and just wanted to post my recommendations for repotting. Well, at least when it comes to Phalaenopsis orchids. I've grown them for about ten years now and have a little bit of experience. Well, after some down time, my greenthumb (which I inherited from my grandmother) has been itching to grow them again. Luckily, a local garden center just received a fresh shipment of them, and they were in 4" clear pots. So they were very healthy and had vigorous root growth. Normally, I wouldn't repot them while they're still in bloom, but the plants were top heavy and kept wanting to tip over, which damaged a couple blooms on one of them.

So I searched online and came across these wonderfully designed orchid pots called "Oxygen Core Dual" and are basically clear outer pots with a inner net pot. I purchased two 5.5" pots to transplant them into. The only issue that I had with the pots, when they arrived, was that the slots in the inner net pots were too narrow. Well, they were wide enough for new roots to grow through, but not wide enough to thread the current roots though. The roots were simply too long and healthy for me to leave them bound up in the smaller net pots, where they would receive less lighting, and I wanted them to take full advantage of the brilliant designing of these great pots. As you can see in the pics I attached, how the pots looked beforehand, and then after I altered them. I simply widened the spacing in the net pots by cutting away every other vertical slot, and then alternating the cuts on every horizontal row, which actually turned out just right. After carefully removing the orchids from their old pots, I noticed the roots were very long and healthy. Almost a foot long and with no rotted roots whatsoever.

It took quite a bit of time and patience, but I eventually managed to thread the roots though the openings of the net pots and I placed some sphagnum moss on the bottom first, to give them something to rest on. Eventually, I filled in the spacing in between the sections of the roots that still remained inside the net pots. Then I took them and placed them carefully inside the clear outer pots, making sure the roots that were hanging out were gently placed where they needed to be. I placed the orchids lower in the net pots, so that any future new root growth would grow through the moss and wrap around with the other roots.

Afterwards, I gave them a good watering using the rainwater I collect in my backyard (after letting it warm to room temperature, of course). My biggest concern was putting the Phals thru the stress of repotting while still in bloom. But after almost a week now, they're still doing healthy and show absolutely no signs of any stress at all. In fact, they seem to love their new home, lol. I look forward now, to a great year of orchid growing, With both Spring & Summer right around the corner.

Anyways, I just thought I'd share my story with everybody. Plus, if you plan on doing any Phal repotting, I highly recommend these Oxygen Core Dual pots. The design gives the roots a humid environment, while giving them access to fresh air. I guarantee you that you will love these pots, almost as much as your Phals will, HaHa!

The 1st pic is how the pots originally look.
The 2nd is after I altered the spacing of the net pot.
The 3rd is after planting.

[CTB]

Very interesting. Sounds like a good experiment keep us posted. Welcome to the Orchid Board, sounds like you will have lots of good information to share with us. Keep it coming!

My phals are too big for these pots but I do have the larger net pots so I'll figure out something, Thanks for getting me thinking.

[tom_e_boi]

They also had 8" Oxygen Dual Core pots for sale. They sell different sizes; 2.75", 3.75", 4.25", 5.5", & 8" sizes.

Oxygen Core Dual™ Pots

^ This is the website from which I bought them from. They have a very informative website that's very easy to navigate. Very professional, and I look forward to doing business with them again in the future.

[tucker85]

I've seen those pots advertised. It seems like a good idea. Let us know how they work out. As for repotting when in bloom, I've done it many times and the phals usually don't seem to mind. Good luck with your new plants.

[bballr4567]

When I need pots, I'm grabbing these.

[orchidsarefun]

netting pots bought separately ( cheaper ! ) as inserts for other pots - use for zygo's, catts and dens. I use the clear pots with slits up the side for phals - these work well when sphag is used as primary potting mix.

I like the netting pot principle....

[tom_e_boi]

I just wanted to add this last pic showing the awesome roots of my Phals. There was just no way I could of left these bound up in the inner net pots. Tho, I'm sure they would've done okay. When I removed them from their 4" pots and carefully removed the old potting medium, these roots were far longer than I anticipated, lol. At first, I thought there would be no way I could get them thru the wider openings of the net pots that I altered. But in the end, I believe that the payout will most definitely be worth it, and I'll be rewarded with healthier plants and better blooms.

There's no question in my mind anymore about the use of transparent pots when repotting Phalaenopsis. I have had relative success in the past, but I've always used clay pots, and I've never had such vigorous root growth like this before.

I can't wait to post followup pics, after the growing season, to compare them and see the results. My orchid obsession has once again truly been rekindled. Once you're addicted to orchids, there is nothing that can cure you of it. (Not that I'm looking to be cured, lol...) I already want more plants now to feed my obsession, HaHa!

[shinv]

Nice

[LadySoren]

how is this going? I recently bought a bunch of these pots. Repotting day tomorrow!

Also, to the person who basically makes their own version of this- do the net pots fit in the clear pots with enough wiggle/air room?