Getting a phal to grow deeper roots

[NatalieS]

I've only been growing orchids for five or six years, but my oldest plants are phals. Two are in clear plastic pots, and one I repotted into clay and has been growing in clay for over three years. I can say for sure that my other two phals do not have aerial roots growing out of their pots like the one in clay does! The longest ones in the picture are over 30cm long - they just do not want to stay in the pot.

[Phal grower]

I grow in clear pots but it didn't help with this one.

[Phal grower]

Now, how to repot?

[tucker85]

Originally Posted by Phal grower

I grow in clear pots but it didn't help with this one.

There has to be a reason why the roots preferred not to go into the pot. Either the medium was old and deteriorated or it was too dry or too wet. If you use a small pot, fresh medium, and water it when it gets almost completely dry then the roots should seek out the medium in the pot. One trick I've learned, while you're waiting for the medium to dry out almost completely, lightly mist the top of the medium and the visable roots around the base of the phal.. You should do it in the morning as often as is convinient for you. It encourages the formation of new roots and it draws them down into the medium rather than out into the air. Of course some plants will still send out aerial roots.

[Daenerys]

Tucker,

How would you repot an orchid like the one in your net pot picture, if the roots are all tangled up outside of the pot? Do you end up cutting the pot apart to get the plant out, or sacrificing those roots that grew through the holes?

[Phal grower]

Tucker, this plant came out of sphagnum and went straight into leca, used traditionally-not S/H, so the medium was fine. I try to keep it evenly moist but the top does dry quickly. So you might be on to something although I am a cronic daily mister. I also have fairly high humidity around 60-70% during the day so this along with the quick drying medium might be drawing the roots out into the air?

[tucker85]

Originally Posted by Daenerys

Tucker,

How would you repot an orchid like the one in your net pot picture, if the roots are all tangled up outside of the pot? Do you end up cutting the pot apart to get the plant out, or sacrificing those roots that grew through the holes?

When I repot out of net pots I cut the pot up and try to retain most of the roots. I don't mind trimming some of the roots off though. I no longer use net pots for phals.. I tried it for a year and they grew well but they dried too quickly for me and I didn't like all the roots growing out of the pot.. Now I use clear plastic pots only. They seem to work best in my environment.

---------- Post added at 02:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:08 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Phal grower

Tucker, this plant came out of sphagnum and went straight into leca, used traditionally-not S/H, so the medium was fine. I try to keep it evenly moist but the top does dry quickly. So you might be on to something although I am a cronic daily mister. I also have fairly high humidity around 60-70% during the day so this along with the quick drying medium might be drawing the roots out into the air?

That does sound like a possibility.

[Exo]

I have discovered that..clear pot or not, using a coarse bark based mix seems to encourage rampant root growth into the pot...assuming I water every few days like I should.

[Vanda lover]

I agree. Clear pots really work well for phals, and if they have lots of holes, even better.

[Bruce Ah Sing]

To grow any orchid successfully one needs to study its natural habitat. Phalies are epiphytes. They grow best when roots are on top of any compost. The best I have seen were in north Queensland, Australia and grown in volcanic gravel in troughs and heavily fertilized