How many new roots is enough new roots?

[PaxTea]

I love the sound of semi-hydroponic. I think it would be a good fit for me, because I can already tell that I have a tendency to hover and fret about watering. The fact that you can't really over-water would work in my favor.

I keep reading that timing is crucially important, that you should transition only when the plant is in active growth and putting out new roots.

That's cool, I can wait and be patient. My question is, how much new growth? How many new roots? Is one little nubbin a sign that the plant is ready to go, or do you need several?

I ask, because it sounds like you need to make the switch while the new roots are still small little things. You probably can't wait around too long, once you get that fresh growth.

Can anybody point me to a resource with some pictures of plants (particularly phals) that are in an ideal state for transition?

[WhiteRabbit]

[Pilot]

I have the plant make the jump when it has a new root reaching for the potting medium, or even just before. And one root is enough for me. It's true that you should wait until new roots are emerging and I have not waited in the past and lived to regret it as those plants have not. But if you plant is actively growing and sending even one or two roots, its time I make the switch to sh.

[Paddle_grl]

I've always just re-potted mine as soon as I got them...I guess I'm impatient. It's just easier. I have found, however, if you do it while they are not actively growing (or sickly rescues) sometimes they take a while to "take"

[PaxTea]

Originally Posted by Pilot

I have the plant make the jump when it has a new root reaching for the potting medium, or even just before. And one root is enough for me. It's true that you should wait until new roots are emerging and I have not waited in the past and lived to regret it as those plants have not. But if you plant is actively growing and sending even one or two roots, its time I make the switch to sh.

Thanks! That's exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for!

[Vanda lover]

I do mine mainly in the spring when there is new growth. I've heard from some that phals don't always do well in s/h. I have a young miniature phal in s/h and I am finding that it blasts buds easily, and I'm not sure the flowers are lasting as they should. The roots have quickly gone to the bottom and are always green. My reed stemmed epi do really well in s/h.

[PaxTea]

I saw that, yeah. It seems like Phals have more problems than other plants, mainly because of the evaporative cooling and because they're relatively slow growers. Cold and dry places (like Minnesota... oops) are probably not ideal.

Knowing that, bottom heat and K-L-N are definitely part of the plan! I'm working in less-than-ideal circumstances and I won't take failure to heart.

Thank you for the warning, though! I do appreciate it.

[Vanda lover]

Bottom heat should be a good solution, except when you are trying to get them back in to bloom. Then they need some cooler temperatures.
I moved a few of mine to a warmer room once they got spikes and it seemed to cause some bud blast.

[Bud]

Phalaenopsis are not really that hard to transition to S/H.
Ryan is right, you only need one root to emerge and that's good enough....
The suggestion of Vanda lover to put a heat mat under the pot is helpful, since you are in a grow zone that has longer winter

[Vanda lover]

Reed stemmed epi and phal dens really love s/h. I find them much easier to grow this way.