How did it fit? - Orchid Board

The Mutant · #1 10-11-2012, 01:21 PM

I can't get over the fact that this little guy (points at mini NoID Phal) used to live in that small pot (points at pot on the left in the picture). Where on earth did it have its roots? Granted, the root system didn't look as large until I managed to untangle it.

I bought this little NoID in February, and after cutting off its spike (the flowers had started to get black, ugly spots on them) it has done nothing but grow. It now has 11 leaves, a rather impressive root system, and two spikes (I hope they're going to make it).

So that's one of my root escapees out of the way.
Now I have some more to repot before I'm done (hey, isn't one supposed to repot Phal every 2nd-3d year, and not at least twice a year?).

tucker85 · #2 10-11-2012, 01:23 PM

Phals love to be root-bound in small pots. Your's is a very healthy, well grown example. Good job.

cbuchman · #3 10-11-2012, 01:48 PM

Amazing. Well done!

nenella · #4 10-11-2012, 02:00 PM

WOW that's a super root system! Congrats on your growing Mutant. Your new pot looks a little on the big size (from the photo) JMHO...and as Tucker pointed out they Love being tightly fitted in a pot.

The Mutant · #5 10-11-2012, 03:06 PM

Thanks guys! Although I haven't done anything except watch in amazement as this crazy little bugger has grown (it even managed to get two of its new leaves at the same time!).

Quote:

Originally Posted by nenella

WOW that's a super root system! Congrats on your growing Mutant. Your new pot looks a little on the big size (from the photo) JMHO...and as Tucker pointed out they Love being tightly fitted in a pot.

The pot might border on the "too big" size, but I think it'll work. I'll upload a picture of it in its new pot tomorrow and you can say what you think (I don't have any smaller sized ones, so hopefully it'll be good enough).

I have more of these root monsters as I call them, but the worst one was my Phal. schilleriana...

Here was how it looked after being with me for 6 months (it was shipped to me bare rooted):

All I can say is that it was completely insane. I sold it recently and since it was in a desperate need of a repot, I decided to ship it bare rooted. To get it out of the pot I first let it soak for a while, but I still had to cut the pot open to get it out. Despite me pre-soaking it, I couldn't untangle the root mass, and when the buyer got it, she told me she had never seen such a root system on a Phal before.

I hope my new schilleriana will enjoy living here as much as that one did.

Lorraine · #6 10-11-2012, 04:59 PM

Nice roots. Good job growing. I recently had 2 mini phals that I wanted to pot together. Didn't want to use a big pot but had to accommodate both plants. Used a square one and filled the bottom 1/3 with plastic peanuts then spag moss the rest with the plant. These guys are doing great, lots of new roots with plenty of air getting in there too. So I guess what I'm saying is you can use a bigger pot if you make adjustments for the air circulation and drying time.