Tips for repotting Phal gigantea? - Orchid Board

camille1585 · #1 01-18-2016, 08:14 AM

I got a young Phal gigantea 18 months ago, and it's doing great. The pot is full of roots, and they've even come through the bottom holes and have firmly attached to the plastic saucer and even the metal shelf.

With any other Phal I'd repot without thinking, but I have read in multiple places that Phal gigantea HATES being repotted and will sulk for quite a while after.

So with that in mind, I assume it would be better to wait until spring (active root growth) to repot so that it gets re-established quickly?

I hope to leave it in it's new pot for many years. But the usual bark/sphag mix I use will need changing after 2 years (3 at the max). Would straight Leca work for this Phal, knowing that my humidity is in the 40-60% range?

And generally, any repotting tips for this guy are welcome.

And it may be good to mention that mounting is NOT an option for me, even though this species does best mounted. I just can't keep up with the watering needs of mounts, and have long given up keeping any.

Bunch_Of_Roots · #2 01-18-2016, 10:27 PM

bump. I am interested in hearing others' opinions too as I will be receiving my P. gigantea this week!

WhiteRabbit · #3 01-19-2016, 08:34 PM

one more

- anybody ?

camille1585 · #4 01-20-2016, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

one more

- anybody ?

Looks like I'll have to make an educated guess about the best way/time to repot this Phal....

Subrosa · #5 01-20-2016, 06:46 AM

I can't speak to the particular species you're working with, but generally the best time to repot any plant that has any kind of dormant period is the day before dormancy breaks. The next best would be on the day dormancy breaks. Once growth is well underway it seems to me that a plant sensitive to repotting would have a greater chance of having that growth interrupted by the repotting. Again I have no experience with Phal gigantea and am speaking in generalities.

MattWoelfsen · #6 01-20-2016, 07:25 AM

I have a couple of Phalaenopsis gigantea--this is a very slow growing plant. In situ, it grows very high on trees. Up there, it gets lots of fresh air, water, and humidity and sunshine.

You are right to be cautious about repotting this plant. If your plant has enjoyed its current condition, I would very carefully remove the pot it is in, and put it into a net pot (the less pot you have the easier to remove it when it is time to repot). The pot should be an inch larger. I would do this when it gets warmer, and the roots show signs of active growth.

Another reason for using a net pot versus mounting it on a slab is because when it gets older, the plant will need a very sturdy support--I have seen plants that have leaves over three feet long and very wide. Ironically, the plants I have seen have only four or five leaves.

dangerouseddy · #7 01-28-2016, 07:28 AM

from what ive read it doesn't like to be repotted and like phal micholitzii will stop growing for a while.

but the actual media etc is the same as other phals, seen quiet a few people who stand the pots (if you use a pot) on something else to raise the plant up because of the big droopy leaves.

like the previous poster said it likes a lot of light for a phal and good air circulation.

camille1585 · #8 01-28-2016, 07:54 AM

Thanks, though I know how to care for it, that's not the issue. (And yes, those long leaves are problematic, and the pot is sitting on top of something so that the leaves have a bit more space! )
I was mainly wondering what sort of long lasting media people use for it, since my usual mix of bark and sphag means repotting every 2 years, and I'd like to leave it undisturbed for longer than that.

dangerouseddy · #9 01-28-2016, 09:43 AM

sorry didn't mean to insult you.

you could try seramis or leca in a hanging basket if possible, that's if you can water it enough and find somewhere suitable to hang it.

not sure how well the roots would adapt but if they take to it the gigantea shouldnt need repotting for a long time.

camille1585 · #10 01-28-2016, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dangerouseddy

sorry didn't mean to insult you.

you could try seramis or leca in a hanging basket if possible, that's if you can water it enough and find somewhere suitable to hang it.

not sure how well the roots would adapt but if they take to it the gigantea shouldnt need repotting for a long time.

I didn't take it as an insult, just clarifying where I needed the input. But now that I reread my own comment, it reads like I was insulted. That's the problem with words not conveying emotions....