NoID Phal Roots - Need repotting?

[PlantTeeth]

Here are the 2 plants my stepmom gave me for V-Day. They were hers, but I kept saying how I loved her spotted ones. So she gave me one of her spotted ones & one that has purple blooms.
Anyway, they both have great roots & are currently in 4" pots. The one in bloom has roots on the bottom poking thru the holes.
The 2nd one has not bloomed for her again, I saw that I had 2 or 3 spike nubs from last year. Is there any particular reason this one hasn't spiked? They were kept next to each other. Same care conditions.
Both Plants


Blooming One's Roots





Non-Spiked Plant





Thank You for looking!

via mobile

[ALToronto]

It's tough to say - could be as simple as one was closer to a cold draft from a window than the other. Or it could be that the hybrid of the non-blooming plant doesn't bloom as readily as the other. One thing I've learned is that all things are never equal. Both plants look very healthy, although the bark looks a little past its best before date.

If these were mine, I'd give them a fresh potting mix, then keep them warm and well fed. I have several noid phals, and they all bloom at different frequencies, even though they're growing in "equal" conditions.

[bballr4567]

I tried to get mine to bloom using the cold weather theory. I opened the window near them so they would experience a temp drop. It got two of them to spike in about two weeks time. Fast forward four weeks and I find three more starting to spike. Why did others take longer to spike? Who knows. If they are happy they will spike for you.

[PlantTeeth]

Thanks! I will switch out the bark mix. Will they be fine in their current 4" pots?

They will be by a South facing window, my apartment has no East facing ones. My step-mom had them in an East window at her house.

via mobile

[silken]

Many Phals will initiate spikes in the fall with a few weeks of cooler temps. Also a diurnal range of 5 or 10 degrees with cooler nights will likely help. Good light at that time is still required.

Phals are considered lower light plants so you will want to use care if putting them in a south facing window. Either use some sheer curtain or set them far enough back so that they don't birn. It also depends if you have shade trees growing outside the window and other things like buildings.

Usually just pot it into a pot that the roots just fit. So you would likely be fine with the old pots or one size larger since you have a lot of good roots. Cut any slimy or hollow ones off and leave the firm plump ones on.

Keep in mind that old bark holds moisture much better than new bark. Soak the bark overnight and water the plants when approaching dryness at the bottom and centre of the pot.