Repotting a large phal with lots of aerial roots...but nothing in the pot

[vyltan]

The picture says it all: large phal with 8 leaves, lots of aerial roots but everything rotten in the rotten medium. I know from experience you don't try to put aerial roots in the medium (new zealand sphag for me): the velum is quite different and won't adapt. But new roots grow only between leaves...will new roots ever sprout from the base of the plant? How can I get a root system in the pot?

[Silje]

I've put aerial roots into bark mix and that has worked well, but I suppose bark will be very different to sphag in that regard, drier and with more air circulation. Maybe you should try bark as an interim solution? Or mount it?

Because of my own stupidity and mismanagement I've had my fair share of rootless phals to do 'rescue operations' on. My experience is that they can start to shoot new roots from the bottom again...or...well, not QUITE from the bottom, but from below the lowest leaf at least.

Here's a picture of one of the phals that I nearly killed, and that is busy recovering.

[cbuchman]

Sometimes, you can get the aerial roots to be more flexible by soaking them a bit before trying to work with them. I too have had some rescues make a full recovery my growing roots from below the bottom leaves. So, all is not lost!

[silken]

Maybe you could sort of compromise with this one. Soak the roots to make them a bit more pliable. Then use a mix of half NZ sphag and half medium bark. I always use it and my Phals love it (for my conditions). Then put the lower roots into the pot and leave several of the higher ones out of the pot. That way it has a few air roots and hopefully the lower ones will have a bit airier situation with some bark in there and will adjust. I don't pack my media in very tight either.

[Cym Ladye]

Soak some medium bark, drain and add a little course perlite. Cut off the rotten part of the plant stem. Find a pot into which the arial roots will fit snugly and twist all the roots into the pot. Mix in the bark/perlite mix, tamp in firmly and water.

The reason you see NZ moss on plants coming into the USA is because it lighter and cheaper to ship, not because it is a better long term potting media.

CL

[RosieC]

I've put arial roots into both bark mix or Lecca successfully. I would agree with comments above that bark may be better.

[The Mutant]

I usually show all the roots down into the substrate (bark, sphagnum, perlite) and so far so good. They seem to be pretty adaptable.

[bballr4567]

Whats the one thing you learned here though? Your orchid doesnt like the potting medium you had it in or your watering practices. Once they start to throw out so many air roots, its an invitation to check down below.

[johnblagg]

I myself use a larger pot that will let me get a good part of the roots into it without much trouble and move to whatever medium I do best with ... I actually find phals to be one of the easiest to grow and with have found roots adapt easily and quickly to the mew medium as long as the medium is loose enough that air can get down into it to the roots ... lack of air is a major issue orchid roots need air exchange and watering flushes out old stale air and pulls in fresh air. That is why any medium needs good fast drainage to allow air to flow along with the water .

I pay very little attention to the over potting rules in general especially with phals