Phragmipedium potting problem

[JKeys]

So I repotted all of my phrags, and all was well...
Until I discovered this:

Yay! Happy phrag is growing roots out of the pot!
But the system I am using will not work with this. I have it in a tall plastic pot and a layer of some small stones at the bottom. When I water, I pour rainwater in so it is just above this layer. After the water is gone, I will wash out the whole pot and repeat.

But If this root is growing into the rocks, it could damage the root when I take it out and put it back.
Any suggestions?
I think finding a smaller pot to put it inside would be good, but I have yet to find a smaller, opaque plastic pot.
I don't really like clay because the water dries out super fast when the clay pot is sitting in the saucer. The plastic helps to keep the roots cool and the water lasts a little longer.
So if you have seen any smaller plastic pots that will block the sun, or have any other ideas, please share!

Thanks.

[billc]

Try packing peanuts instead of rocks. Or unpot it and try to re-route the root. It's probably seeking out the water in the bottom of the plastic pot.

Bill

[JKeys]

Thanks! I just repotted it recently, so I don't know if unpotting it is a good idea, but I will try peanuts in there instead.

[MrHappyRotter]

It's early in the morning, I'm not fully awake yet, so I'm not entirely sure I grasp the problem you're describing. But I will chime in...

One of the many, many wonderful things about phrags are the amazing roots. They are not brittle like paph roots, so they're less likely to break and seem to be more resistant to manual damage. Also, most phrags grow extensive root systems very quickly (compared to paphs). So, there's generally no need to be concerned about each and every root like you might with other orchids.

If one or two of them find their way out of the pot and subsequently the growth tip dies, it's no big deal. In my experience the roots are usually resistant to rot, so you don't have to worry about disease spreading. And finally, phrag roots are much more apt to branching than a lot of other orchids, so if the tip of a root is damaged or dies, it's likely that higher up, a new root or three will branch off.

[quiltergal]

Why don't you just put it in a saucer of water? They like sending their roots into the water. A saucer is easier to clean and refill than that setup.

[JKeys]

Quiltergal -- I would, but I have them growing right next to an east facing window. Because they are all in transparent plastic pots, I don't want the roots to cook in the sun. Most of my clay pots have absorbed lots of salt from my tap, and after I switched to this setup, there was a noticeable change in growth in all of the phrags. Next time I am out, I can get some more clay pots to try that out though.