another phal spiking!!!!! yay!!
 

hello fellow orchid-lovers! got some pics of the purple phal i wrote a thread about a couple of weeks ago. well, this morning i was looking the plants over, and what to my surprise...a new spike! also, i noticed that one of her roots is trying to grow through the side of the pot hole, pic included.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8112/8...c6210a8698.jpg
Untitled by big_cutie_monster, on Flickr
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Untitled by big_cutie_monster, on Flickr

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Untitled by big_cutie_monster, on Flickr

i'm just guessing that its ok for the root to grow out thru the side if the pot like that? i tried to gently *encourage* the root back into the pot, but it wasn't budging at all. should i just treat it as an air root?

i thought i would share these photos also for an update...they are of the the one who put out a new spike a few weeks ago & the one who put out a secondary branch from the main branch several weeks back (it is in bud at this point, waiting to open).

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8103/8...2840ae0000.jpg
Untitled by big_cutie_monster, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8248/8...51510f30e5.jpg
Untitled by big_cutie_monster, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8111/8...fb0c7a10b1.jpg
Untitled by big_cutie_monster, on Flickr

Awesome!

The root is fine - they often go where they want, regardless of our opinion ;)

if you water the plant first, that may make the root easier to work with, if you want to encourage it back in the pot. I could see it being a pain to repot if it's left to grow wildly outside the pot for quite a while, but otherwise I wouldn't see a problem with it.

Yeah, it may be damaged when repotting later on.
One way to discourage it growing out the hole will be sealing up that hole now when the root is just about to poke out. then it will grow past the diameter of the hole and continue to grow inside the pot.

But you really have to seal it tight so the root doesn't push out. then a few weeks later, you can take the sealing off. easy fix! :)

hey guys, i actually repositioned the whole plant in the pot earlier tonite. i couldn't stand the thought of it having roots hanging outside the pot like that, especially with a curious 3 yr old running around, lol. so, i removed the top 1/2 layer of bark & i was able to gently ease it back into a more upright way with most of the new roots facing down. replaced the bark and done. i thought i better get it fixed quick before the new spike gets going. i can't wait to post pics of this beauty in bloom. its one of the prettiest ones i've seen & also special because it was a gift from my husband. thanks a bunch for all the advice, and i agree that it prolly would have been a big pain to remove the plant from its pot later on if left to continue on that way. brandy

I have two phals in clay pot and their roots are all over the pot, in and out.

I not only have to break the pot, but also damage some major portion of those aerial roots when repotting next time.

oh, well...

I hope you enjoy watching the growing spike. :)