Caring for an elderly orchid with long stems and aerial roots

[PaphMadMan]

There really was no need to trim off the keikis. They often sprout from well below the top of the media with no harm whatsoever, but it will be fine just as you did it. Since you have active root growth the top part is going to grow on very quickly and in a few months you won't be able to tell it ever had a problem.

For the other piece, it doesn't need sphag and bag. Just pot it as best you can getting some of those green roots in the media and the keiki will probably be on its side just at the top of the media. It may be ugly for a while but it will do fine.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Boggus

Thank you both for your feedback! I have been scouring the local markets for a plastic orchid pot big enough to repot it once more so all the rots gets submerged in the bark, but I have not been successfull in finding one.

I never bother with clear pots. Any cylindrical plastic pot would do. All that stuff about photosynthetic roots doesn't take into consideration that when exposed to light, the first thing the roots do is dive back into the dark, safe media.

[greenpassion]

Originally Posted by bil

I never bother with clear pots. Any cylindrical plastic pot would do. All that stuff about photosynthetic roots doesn't take into consideration that when exposed to light, the first thing the roots do is dive back into the dark, safe media.

Just wanted to say here that I have found clear pots very helpful in determining whether or not the plant needs water. I can see when the roots are a nice silvery white, or when they're still damp and green. Clear pots also give me the added info on how much new root development is going on, or, sadly, if there are noticeable rotten ones in there.

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

I highly recommend you read this entire thread:
Repotting overgrown phal
The lady who began the thread shows many different ways she repotted and grew her Phalaenopsis orchids, in the country next to yours.

[bil]

Originally Posted by greenpassion

Just wanted to say here that I have found clear pots very helpful in determining whether or not the plant needs water. I can see when the roots are a nice silvery white, or when they're still damp and green. Clear pots also give me the added info on how much new root development is going on, or, sadly, if there are noticeable rotten ones in there.

Well, I pot phals in wide shallow pots with coarse bark and nothing else. You can't overwater in that medium, the roots can stretch out and I can just ignore them.

[greenpassion]

Actually that sounds like a good idea. I'll consider it when I next need to do a repot.