Dividing phalaenopsis
 

The advice given to a new member with a help repotting question made me wonder why I never see advice to do what I do with my overgrown phalaenopsis. Does anyone else divide their phals something like this?

When my phals get too tall, I cut the top off keeping as many aerial roots as is practical. Sometimes the aerial roots need trimmed so the top will fit in the expectant new pot.

Next, I dust the cut stem and root ends with fungicide, let both top and bottom sit on the bench for a couple days to dry the cut ends, then plant the top in a new pot. The result is two phalaenopsis.

The top of the last phal I did this with mid summer has two spikes with buds about to open. In its case, I tossed the bottom, but the bottoms grow one or more new tops but often skipped a year before blooming again.

-Keith

When you say your Phals are getting too tall how many leaves are they carrying? Even my oldest Phal (20+ years) only carries 8-9 leaves and has never grown tall enough to do what it sounds like you're describing. I've cut off bare stem when repotting that no longer has leaves attached, but it sounds like you're cutting between still viable leaves. How large are the plants?

I've attached a photo of one I'm going to divide next summer after it finishes flowering. This particular plant doesn't hold its bottom leaves well. I think I've divided it once before.

-Keith

So where would you be cutting this? Just so I understand the concept.

In the location marked in the first attached photo, give or take a bit depending on how many roots I could save. I cut where I can saving as many good healthy roots as possible and still comfortably fit the plant in the new pot with the good leaves at the top of the media.

The second photo is the 2-spike phalaenopsis I mentioned earlier that I did this with mid-summer

-Keith

Maybe I'm blind but, I don't see a mark on your pictures. As I'm understanding, you're cutting the area just under the last set of air roots, leaving the old base to become the "parent" plant? An interesting concept. I often cut off the old, bare base when I repot but had never considered this method.

Thanks for the heads up. I fixed it, but the photos are now in the reverse order.
-Keith

Huh. Well, I learned something today. I have one in that shape, I'll give it a try.

I guess I never considered this a new method. I just never let the bare stem get that long without doing a repot. I would do the same thing for an Ascocenda that had lost a lot of its lower leaves. I just don't keep the lower piece, it goes to plant heaven.

Ditto. But I might experiment for the heck of it.