SH below, air roots above. How to repot?

[Kim in CT]

I have several phals that were potted up in semi-hydro and, over the past few years, have put out rather large aerial root systems. What's the best strategy for repotting, when the time comes? There are roots in the LECA but probably more roots in the air. Is the plant telling me that it doesn't like my SH environment and would prefer a switch to bark? One of them is a bellina and I want to be sure I repot her in the best way.

I'm a window-sill grower in zone 6 and our humidity is about to drop significantly for the season (from 60% to 20%). I'm nervous about whether those air roots are going to survive.

Advice? Thanks, Kim

[WaterWitchin]

My phals are all in SH, and all have many more aerial roots than what could possibly be in the pot. I'm zone 6 and they live on a rack in front of a window, only orchids with no extra lighting. They all bloom a couple times a year. I water them every 7 to 10 days. I do have minimum 60% humidity in the room where they grow (a sleeping porch/sunroom). Some I haven't repotted in probably five years. I don't grow in bark, and wouldn't regardless of what they said to me. I figure if they're growing roots and blooming, who cares.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

I have catts in s/h that are doing the same thing. Some just throw roots in every direction, regardless of the potting medium. Even my phals in bark are doing it. I'd just let them be and keep taking care of them. You may have to up the watering frequency when the humidity drops. Keep an eye on your resevoirs. They will tell the tale.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Dusty Ol' Man

I have catts in s/h that are doing the same thing. Some just throw roots in every direction, regardless of the potting medium. Even my phals in bark are doing it. I'd just let them be and keep taking care of them. You may have to up the watering frequency when the humidity drops. Keep an eye on your resevoirs. They will tell the tale.

True Dusty... I have non-phals that also love to crawl right up out of the pot. I would grow many more orchids mounted, but just too darned lazy.

[estación seca]

I think if your humidity will be consistently in the 20% range you will lose a lot of those aerial roots. If you're keeping them warm I might be tempted to repot and spiral the aerial roots into the new medium. Plants in S/H do need repotting to fresh LECA periodically. How long has it been?

[Ray]

The existence of aerial roots is not an indication that the plant “doesn’t like” S/H. If the plant has healthy roots in the LECA, it’s getting plenty of water, and is. It seeking a better environment. What is is doing is seeking to improve its mechanical stability by reaching out to grab more territory, so those aerial roots, once attached, can act as “guy wires” to stabilize the plant.

Many years ago, as an experiment, I move phals into S/H pots bigger than the leaf span of the plants. They then sank those aerial roots into the medium and grew happily without adding more.

Originally Posted by estación seca

I think if your humidity will be consistently in the 20% range you will lose a lot of those aerial roots.

If your humidity is that low, I think you’ll lose all the roots of the bellina, unless you keep the temperature above 75F, due to evaporative cooling from the moist, airy LECA.

[Kim in CT]

Bellina has been in LECA for two years, and I'm pleasantly surprised with how well the plant has done. Huge leaves and two spikes, presently blooming and smelling delightfully of lemons. She is under lights on a heat mat. Under each big leaf is a big aerial root, almost like a leaf-root-leaf lasagna. She seems happy for now, and I'm happy to let her do her thing, but I also would like to plan ahead for when it's time to repot.

I'll post pictures when I get home this evening.

[Kim in CT]

Here are some pictures to illustrate my question. The last one is a noid phal that has recovered from several bad experiences, the most recent involving a fall from a high shelf that snapped off a new spike AND the entire top of the plant. It rebounded by sending out TWO basal growths/keikis, both of which are spiking! But it is really an eyesore. Would be a contestant in the Ugly Orchid Pageant. So I should just let them all "do their thing" and forego repotting?

[FranningtonBear]

They look like happy healthy Phal's too me - look at those root-tips!

My Phal's are in a medium grade bark since that's what works in my environment but they also have many aerial. I would say keep doing what you are doing!

I don't find your ugly duckling an eyesore, just wait until she has recovered more fully, she'll be stunning.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Kim in CT

Here are some pictures to illustrate my question. The last one is a noid phal that has recovered from several bad experiences, the most recent involving a fall from a high shelf that snapped off a new spike AND the entire top of the plant. It rebounded by sending out TWO basal growths/keikis, both of which are spiking! But it is really an eyesore. Would be a contestant in the Ugly Orchid Pageant. So I should just let them all "do their thing" and forego repotting?

Read again what Ray says here...

Originally Posted by Ray

...What is is doing is seeking to improve its mechanical stability by reaching out to grab more territory, so those aerial roots, once attached, can act as “guy wires” to stabilize the plant.

That's what your phals are doing. As they grow they reach out to grab and stabilize themselves onto the tree they're growing on so as the plant gets bigger it won't fall onto the ground. Gravity vs falling off the tree. We put them into pots, but it doesn't change their growth habit. Look at the size of the pot they're in. They aren't going to curve around to go down into the LECA or bark. If you don't want those aerial roots...

Originally Posted by Ray

...move phals into S/H pots bigger than the leaf span of the plants. They then sank those aerial roots into the medium and grew happily without adding more.

As Ray said, it was an experiment. Now, the downside to that is each plant will take up more real estate on the bench. For most, each little piece of bench is valuable real estate. I have several that are in pots just about the size you're using... around Yankee Candle size...and they look the same. Maybe I can remember to take a picture and post here.

Your last two pics 5 & 6... I agree, that could win an Ugly Orchid contest. Were it mine I would be performing surgery and dividing off the two basal starts, potting up separately, decreasing the neck of the plant [like an African violet surgery]. If you've never done it, it would be a great experiment/learning for you. The other alternative would be to repot much lower (decreasing the neck of the plant as well) cutting off the old crown and sealing. Pic 4 looks like it went through a dehydrated stage for awhile, but appears to be recovering nicely. Pics 1-3... that's a nice looking leaf/root lasagna.