Where to transition after S/H

[MateoinLosAngeles]

I have a pretty mature Phal showing very aggressive root growth, and I’m considering moving it into a basket. It has grown extremely well in S/H and needs a bigger pot, but I repotted it last summer, and I don’t really want to repot it every year, so a basket might give it a bit more room to grow in between the slits.

I’m trying to sort out the best medium to use for this that would cause the least amount of setback. I pretty much have been able to transition plants planted in any media into S/H, but the opposite is not always true.

I've always used bark for plants in baskets, mostly Cattleyas, but also Phalaenopsis. I water often, but I like the freedom of S/H if I skip a watering or two. My instinct is that tight Sphagnum Moss would maintain some of the qualities of S/H, namely constant even moisture, feeding, and airflow, but not sure how it will perform in a basket in dry Los Angeles. It would also make this plant have a different watering schedule, which is annoying.

The basket I have in mind is a rounded basket from Orchid Mate. I've thought about placing a dish inside the basket, at the bottom, to act as a reservoir and keep the plant in LECA inside the basket, maybe lining the basket with some Sphagnum to reduce evaporation but still allowing for the roots to peek through, which they can't do in a plastic container. My concern, of course, is the LECA drying too quickly and potentially dehydrating new root tips.

Any recommendations or experiences from moving a plant from S/H to a basket?

[Louis_W]

In my experience pot size matters much less in S/H so you could double the size of the pot if you want and buy yourself several years of growth. I do it all the time! I transition plants in 2-3" pots into 6-8" SH pots.

The situation you describe may work but it sounds like a lot of different things going on waiting for one to go wrong. If it were me id keep the plant in SH if you want to keep it healthy

[MateoinLosAngeles]

Originally Posted by Louis_W

In my experience pot size matters much less in S/H so you could double the size of the pot if you want and buy yourself several years of growth. I do it all the time! I transition plants in 2-3" pots into 6-8" SH pots.

The situation you describe may work but it sounds like a lot of different things going on waiting for one to go wrong. If it were me id keep the plant in SH if you want to keep it healthy

What do you use as your 6" container? That's what I need for this one.

[Louis_W]

Originally Posted by MateoinLosAngeles

What do you use as your 6" container? That's what I need for this one.

I have found paint mixing containers at ACE. They arent as clear as id like, but they do the trick. Otherwise i just keep my eyes open.

[Dimples]

36 oz deli containers are neutral looking enough that I don’t mind having them in the living room. I think of them as tall 5” pots and add holes where needed.

There’s also a specific brand of fresh/refrigerated salsa at Costco (in my area) that makes a perfect clear 6” pot. Don’t remember the name but it has a yellow lid.

[tmoney]

haribo tubs and you get sum gummies as a reward

[Ray]

I don't bother with clear pots for S/H plants any longer, so that opens up the options significantly.

I mostly use plastic pails I buy from Uline. They are quite durable. I have used white, but the quart (4.5") is also available in black, the 1-gallon (7") and 2-gallon (9") are available in white, black, natural, and several other colors.

If you absolutely must switch to a non-S/H environment, sphagnum or an inorganic equivalent would be the best shot, as those roots are now attuned to staying wet, but a rapidly-drying basket, in my opinion, is a terrible idea no matter what the medium used.

[estación seca]

I've lived in Orange County. I wouldn't put a Phal. in a basket unless I had time to look at it and water every day if needed, even when I'm on vacation.

[katsucats]

I'm probably late here, but in my opinion the solution is vase culture, or passive water culture. You can look into using a plastic 6" net pot suspended over a taller container (e.g. I've used a 2.7 qt Carlisle crock, or a decorative resin planter without holes at the bottom, or a 5 gal bucket). You could either treat the system as S/H and water everyday or let evaporation take over in keeping the medium humid. The medium could be LECA or graduated layers to keep an even moisture zone, sort of like the media for Stephen's PET method, in my opinion. It's just a thought, don't take my word for it. I've had a grocery store Phal survive like this for an entire year without watering, although some care is preferred for optimal culture.

[Subrosa]

I my plants outside when temps are suitable, and tend to grow higher light species, and have had numerous plastic containers crack while moving them in or out, due to UV degradation of the plastic. I scour thrift stores, garage sales, and even the local Ollie's to get large ceramic containers that aren't intended for plants and drill drainage holes as needed.