Repotting with very high up roots
 

I'm planning on repotting my phalaenopsis today and I have one that has started growing roots very high up over the last month or so. I'm very new to this, but after a lot of looking through other posts, I'm pretty sure they're roots not spikes. I want to post pics, but I think you have to post a certain number of times before you can post pics so I cant. When I repot, do I get a new pot that's deep enough to contain the new roots, or use the same pot & leave me open to air like they are now? Any tips help. I don't want to screw this up because I've had it for almost 2 yrs (which is the longest I've ever had one!)

Hopefully you have read the sticky on "The Phal abuse ends here" at the top of this discussion. These are air roots and can easily be curled into the pot when repotting in fresh mix, after cutting off all the old rotten roots.

Thank you so much! I have read through some of the phal abuse ends here, but there are SO many posts there. But now I know to search for air roots. Thanks!

Some people will say to NEVER pot air roots because they are inherently different from non-air roots and can't handle being potted, but I have potted a few air roots without issues. Some people will insist that they will rot if you pot them, and that is not always true.

You can leave them out of the pot, though. They will keep your plant alive if you pot it incorrectly and kill all the potted roots (which happens to the best of us!) so it is good to have air roots.

I would personally leave at least half of them out of the pot.

Additionally, phalaenopsis orchids love to lean out of their pots and grow air roots upward, so you will eventually have to let the phal win this tug-of-war :)
It'll just keep growing like that no matter how upright you pot it!

I also made a video on what to do with new phalaenopsis orchids if you're interested. :)

You can still put the aerial roots inside the pot, but be very careful, easy to break, so I just let mine go anywhere it likes. The one that I have put the aerial roots inside, still found a way to go out..so it wins. I just spray mist those aerial roots too at time of watering.

I have learned to use a bigger pot where the roots can freely roam inside, sort of a compromise rather than have it mounted. Before I used to pot it just snug fit in a container with side holes, but I still feel it needs some more space and air. So far it seems a good compromise with my Phal and I have two in spike right now.

One way to reduce breakage of aerial roots, or any roots for that matter when putting them is a pot, is to gently "screw" them into the pot by twisting the plant one way and the pot the other. Works for me every time.

If aerial roots are growing outside the pot anyway, how do i know if it is outgrowing the pot and needs repotting? I can't tell the difference even with other orchids with air roots.

Your phal will usually stay in the same size pot for awhile. When you go to repot, if the roots will fit in the same pot then stay with that size. It's been said that they really don't like to be over-potted. I usually keep my air roots out of the pot, but for my vandas I put them in clay pots and chunky bark so most of them are in media.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I see all pahl roots as identical. Those 'air ' ones are simply ones that have emerged above the medium.

If the roots of a keiki are considered as aerial, then aerial roots can be put in the medium.