Repotting overgrown phal

[bil]

This shows the difference between the two versions of the 25 cm base and the two versions of the big phal pots caused by buying different makes of pot.

The other one is the shallow 30/35 cm pot I use for the hard cane dens..

As you can see, there is going to be a lot more air exchange with such shallow pots.

MMaking these is a littlle work, and you need to have a few goes before you get it right, but it does give good results. The pots don't look too amateurish, and while they cost a bit more, they aren't too expensive..

Watch out for hot plastic, and wear goggles and ear protectors when cutting the plastic. The disc cutter will spit out blobs, and they are HOT. I clean the cut surfaces with a sharp knife scraped round. Again, practice helps and try not to cut yourself!

[wintergirl]

Originally Posted by bil

I think you may find roots coming out of the gaps between the slats, which will be a pain come repotting..

She has it in that clear plastic pot with the tiny holes, that sets inside the slat bucket. So that won't be an issue.

[Helene]

Yeah, I was thinking the same, I'm a smartass sometimes😂😜

Thats why I was poking all those holes. Small so there will be less roots out, and still enough air😎

[Helene]

Liked your pots, Bil👍😃

[bil]

Originally Posted by Helene

Liked your pots, Bil👍😃

Thank you very much. Do be very careful with water in yours. To me, it looks very dense packing. I like 2 inch bark chunks and nothing else in mine for that depth. I'd deffo use a bamboo skewer to monitor moisture.

I quite like the plant on the right in that cylindrical vase. It shouldn't dry out too fast, and you can keep a very good eye on the roots!

[Helene]

The short version:
Thanks for the advice, I will pay attention😊

The chatty version:
Its big bark mostly. I ran out of big bark- top layer is a bit smaller.

I was actually planning on something similar with this big, but didnt find a big enough glass-vase-thingy for that.

Maybe leca? And water?

Both? Or try bark with both.

It happens to be in that glass because I wasnt able to decide what to do. And then I kinda liked the way he looks when he's taking a bath. As I've already posted a picture of earlier I believe (yup, I like pictures☺️)

All the holes in the pot and the perlite will help keep the air okay, atleast that's what I'm hoping…

Lol- consider how resilient this one is, I somehow think he's gonna be okay. I'll be keeping an eye out, though- thats why I wanted the innerpot. Easy to see how moist it is.


Well, things doesnt always work out the way I planned, so maybe I change my mind. Again. And again. Until I'm happy, and the plants are happy.

Thats the way we learn. 😜

Damn, I'm sooo chatty, I sometimes get tired of hearing myself thinking😂 I'll make a short version. I'll actually copy it, and put it in the beginning as well. (Btw- did that make you glance at the first sentence- to check if it actually is the same? &#128521

The short version:
Thanks for the advice, I will pay attention😊

[Helene]

New roots😎 As if this plants needs more roots…😉




And this is just pretty enough to be here once more💕



That is kinda awesome😎 But I'm not sure what is the best solution for the plant. Whats least stressfull for the plant?

[Helene]

Like Bil said, I dont like the way the big one are potted. Even though its not that small bark, only on the top layer- its still doesnt feel right.

I'm gonna redo that one- they grow in trees, they dont need that amount of bark. I need to find something else, or maybe another kind of basket.

Maybe in the pot, and have some sort of tree, and less bark. Not sure, but I am sure I don't like the way it feels now.

These: I love them. And have been looking at some of the welding project and pots Bil makes.



I like the way they look, and the way they feel. Feels empty and light when dry, and a bit heavier when wet, but still feels good. You know what I mean😊

Would like to make some sort of racks so I they can be even more sideways. (Maybe put some net on the top of the pots, so the bark doesnt fall out. But I think the plants would love it)



Kinda like that.

Well, and yeah- kinda funny how strong they can be.

The keiki plant- with two keikis. One bloomed last year. One of them got rejected from the mother plant, and it didnt look any good- so I kinda threw it away- but in a glass bowl at the floor- out of laziness. That bowl I also put old water thats left over when watering. So there it was, all wrinkly and almost dead. But when not connected to the mother plant, it started to get better. And got nutrition from that old water.

I suddenly noticed the new leaf starting to look healthy. So instead of trashing it, I picked it up. So now I have to mount or pot this one. Just for fun- to see if it makes it.






Good thing I was lazy😎

The mother-plant and the last keiki started to look sick. So I had to cut it of, mother-plant still not repotted. Keiki got a small pot, doesnt look to healthy, but I'll just see how it works out.

Mother


Baby1


Lol, the trashed one almost looks better than the "keeper" one😜

Its gonna be fun seeing who recovers first😎


So: big one- mistake.

The rest: love it. Well, not the big yellow plant, though.

But have to admit, its kinda addicting, and time consuming with all these plants, and sooo many to repot😜😂 But its soooo fun😊 It makes me happy😊

[bil]

I quite like that phal in the cylindrical pot with no medium. Personally in your shoes, I'd leave it like that.

Mounts look good, but they require regular and frequent watering.

To me, when we grow a phal especially, we are trying to strike a happy balance between what the plant would get in the wild, and what is feasible for us.

They would grow fine just hung from a cord with all the roots out in the air. I've seen it done, and it's quite a sight. Trouble is, the roots dry out fast.

The pot and the bits of coarse bark are partly for support, but they are also to slow down evaporation by sun and wind. It's a balancing game.
I choose a wide pot, and 35 centimetres is wide by most standards, because smaller pots have escaping rooots, and that too me suggests they need that expansion space. Those tiny plastic pots with the roots desperately squeezing out of the tiniest drainage holes so you have to break them to get the plant out, is just brutal. (see attached pic)

The depth also needs to be right. Too deep and the bark retains too much water too shallow, and it isn't enough.

[bil]

I quite like that phal in the cylindrical pot with no medium. Personally in your shoes, I'd leave it like that.

Mounts look good, but they require regular and frequent watering.

To me, when we grow a phal especially, we are trying to strike a happy balance between what the plant would get in the wild, and what is feasible for us.

They would grow fine just hung from a cord with all the roots out in the air. I've seen it done, and it's quite a sight. Trouble is, the roots dry out fast.

The pot and the bits of coarse bark are partly for support, but they are also to slow down evaporation by sun and wind. It's a balancing game.
I choose a wide pot, and 35 centimetres is wide by most standards, because smaller pots have escaping rooots, and that too me suggests they need that expansion space. Those tiny plastic pots with the roots desperately squeezing out of the tiniest drainage holes so you have to break them to get the plant out, is just brutal. (see attached pic)

The depth also needs to be right. Too deep and the bark retains too much water, too shallow, and it isn't enough.