Phal growing out of pot - Page 2 - Orchid Board

(..._...) · #11 06-30-2008, 09:26 PM

hmmm maybe I should I have put this in the advanced discussion. The problem I have is not complex, so I put it in the beginner discussion even though I am not new to orchids, and know how to re-pot my phal.

I also think it is hard to understand my question because it is hard for me to explain lol.

#1- this plant was JUST re-potted
#2- the mix looks dry because this pic was taken right before I watered it, and since it is new mix, the top dries a tad fast

ooh, and the mix is actually medium sized bark/coconut husk, which is nice and airy, but retains moisture. I just so happened that a few of the larger chunks are on the top

ok, now that I have that explained, I will attempt to explain my problem again: The root system is comming from the rhyzome, which is about 4" away from where the leaves are currently growing. I had repotted it into a 6" pot, in order to accomodate the roots AND the part of the phal which is growing. However, it was staying too wet too long, since it was overpotted. So.. I put it in this new 5"pot about a week ago. The roots are in the pot, but I can't place the plant any other way in order to make the plant actually fit into the pot. Ughh lol I can't put this into writing

and yes, I understand that phals grow this way, many of my other ones do, but they all grow new roots along the rhyzome, and replace the old ones. This one seems to keep extending the old roots, but doesn't seem to like growing new ones from the base of the plant. Well now if it does, they will be growing in the air, because that portion of the plant is hanging out of the pot!!

Now wait... i'm confused...

(..._...) · #12 06-30-2008, 09:31 PM

Image - TinyPic - Free Image Hosting, Photo Sharing & Video Hosting

maybe this will help
red= rhyzome
yellow= roots (which fill, but are not overcrowded in the pot)

quiltergal · #13 06-30-2008, 10:27 PM

Cam, what you are calling a rhizome is just a root that is branching. Phals are monopodial and as such do not have rhizomes. You are correct though that it will be difficult for the plant to send out new roots since it really doesn't have anywhere for them to go. I really think you need a slightly bigger pot to accomodate all of the rootmass and the plant too. Another option is to mount this one since it seems hell bent on hanging.

(..._...) · #14 06-30-2008, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiltergal

Cam, what you are calling a rhizome is just a root that is branching. Phals are monopodial and as such do not have rhizomes. You are correct though that it will be difficult for the plant to send out new roots since it really doesn't have anywhere for them to go. I really think you need a slightly bigger pot to accomodate all of the rootmass and the plant too. Another option is to mount this one since it seems hell bent on hanging.

is there a name for that? I know that this phals n such don't have rhyzomes, but it is similar in this case, so I don't know what else to call it. since it is growing sideways, rather than upwards, I can't just plant the orchid higher in the pot.... hmmm

as you said, this phal is determined to go as sideways as it can.

It is a summer blooming phal, so I do not want to disturb it again, since it has just started blooming.whatever, it shoud be fine for now-- there are lots of new roots growing inside the pot

susiep · #15 06-30-2008, 11:17 PM

Cam, I re-basketed when this plant was in full bloom and it didn't affect the flowers at all. The leaves got wilted until I finally made it happy. I know what you mean about the "rhizome". It may not be called that in a phal but that is sure what it looks like. The one on this plant was as big around as a broomtsick and very solid.

It had 4 plants growing off of it. All of them blooming. Really beautiful. About 50 flowers at the same time! Your plant may want to do this, too. I used very chunky bark mix. It wanted lots of air ( it was used to being out of the basket). I had to buy the biggest basket I could find and put that "rhyzome" thing in there diagonally across the top to get it to fit. I'm glad I didn't separate it or cut the rhyzome thing, because it just sent out another little plant!

(..._...) · #16 06-30-2008, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susiep

Cam, I re-basketed when this plant was in full bloom and it didn't affect the flowers at all. The leaves got wilted until I finally made it happy. I know what you mean about the "rhizome". It may not be called that in a phal but that is sure what it looks like. The one on this plant was as big around as a broomtsick and very solid.

It had 4 plants growing off of it. All of them blooming. Really beautiful. About 50 flowers at the same time! Your plant may want to do this, too. I used very chunky bark mix. It wanted lots of air ( it was used to being out of the basket). I had to buy the biggest basket I could find and put that "rhyzome" thing in there diagonally across the top to get it to fit. I'm glad I didn't separate it or cut the rhyzome thing, because it just sent out another little plant!

hmmm I may re-pot if need be. It was jsut re-potted a week ago, so I do not want to push it

like I said, I had it in a larger pot, in order to fit the WHOLE plant, but the roots were overpotted in the large pot, and it was taking far too long to dry out. I'll try and find someway to fix it!

I know phals like the grow this way... but this one is waaaayyy too anoying

ps. Your monster phal is terrific!!

thakshila smith · #17 07-04-2008, 10:19 AM

What I understood was that you can't hide phal roots .
they grow outer surface of the pot and grow air roots . They are not happy to live in a pot.

(..._...) · #18 07-04-2008, 11:07 AM

I think I found a solution! I found a type of clear pot online that is nice and deep. I think it will fit the roots and the plant completely without overpootting it

... I will go to the store an pick one up when I am in that area. For now the plant seems okay in this pot.

Weebl · #19 07-04-2008, 11:48 AM

I'm a firm believer that phals appreciate being grown on their side like you're describing. I have a bellina and gigantea that do this and even if the stem is not in the medium, it sends roots where it needs nutrients from, so into the air if it needs more CO2 or they will travel into the mix to get moisture. With the plant at an angle though, the leaves are able to utilize more surface area for sunlight increasing photosynthesis; not to mention a decrease in the likelyhood of crown-rot. I would just leave it and let it grow how it wants to, in my opinion.

(..._...) · #20 07-04-2008, 12:54 PM

I don't have a problem with it growing on its side, all my other phals do it. I had to repot it because the pot it was in was overpotted, only to fit the root size. but now, in this pot, it is drying out fast enough, which is what I want, BUT, now the part of the plant where new roots grow is OFF the edge of the pot. So whether it wants to or not, the roots will be aerial roots. I grow in the home, with low humidity, I rarely get any air roots.
Anyways as I had just posted, I have found a pot that will solve my problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weebl

I'm a firm believer that phals appreciate being grown on their side like you're describing. I have a bellina and gigantea that do this and even if the stem is not in the medium, it sends roots where it needs nutrients from, so into the air if it needs more CO2 or they will travel into the mix to get moisture. With the plant at an angle though, the leaves are able to utilize more surface area for sunlight increasing photosynthesis; not to mention a decrease in the likelyhood of crown-rot. I would just leave it and let it grow how it wants to, in my opinion.