Phal in 8" pot?

[judiwa]

I have a noid yellow phal that looks like Dragon's Gold but don't really know what it is. I have had it for several years and for the past 3 it has been in a 6" pressed (?) bamboo pot which it loved, it was stuck to the sides but I just removed old bark and added new as needed.

I finally had to take it out because the pot was splitting. It has humongous roots, I could not get it into a 6" so put it in an 8" and although the roots fit nicely it really looks over potted and I am afraid it is. Should leave it there or take it out and cut of older parts of 'stub' which still have live roots to get it in a 6"?

Any input appreciated.

judi

[WhiteRabbit]

If the roots don't fit in a smaller pot, then it's in the right size

[judiwa]

Thanks, I will leave it in there then, it looks pretty happy already.

[estación seca]

Welcome judiwa!

[bil]

Personally I like phals in bigger pots to let their roots grow more freely. Mine are in 14" diam pots..

[judiwa]

Thanks everyone, I have another one that might need an 8" too and am more comfortable potting them up after the input.

[bil]

Originally Posted by judiwa

I finally had to take it out because the pot was splitting. It has humongous roots, I could not get it into a 6" so put it in an 8" and although the roots fit nicely it really looks over potted and I am afraid it is. Should leave it there or take it out and cut of older parts of 'stub' which still have live roots to get it in a 6"?

Any input appreciated.

judi

Feh. What is it with the obsession to cram these plants into tiny pots? Can anyone show an advantage to the plant in so doing?

[estación seca]

They survive just fine, and people in cold-winter climates without greenhouses can fit more plants on their windowsill.

[bil]

Survive? Oh yes. My attitude tho is that I would like mine to do better than survive.

I just don't see forcing the roots into a small pot does any good, that's all.

[judiwa]

I didn't mean to start a heated discussion with my poor little orchid. I don't know why people keep them in small pots but I can tell you about this orchid. I really liked the bamboo pot, I filed some slits into the sides and my plant loved it. Last summer I tried to find another one to pot it on and for some of my other orchids but had no luck. The ones I saw online looked too small. It did not split because the roots broke it, the pots are supposed to be eco-friendly and break down after 2-3 years, it was a generous 6" size and the plant could have stayed in it longer if it had not split all over. It was kind of a pain and I had to soak the roots and gently pry them off the sides to move it but I liked it anyway.

I questioned putting it into an 8" pot because if you look up Phalaenopsis Dragon's Gold you will see it does not have as large of leaves as some of the other hybrids and it does look a little bit over-potted that way. I was also a little concerned because it gets cold here in the winter and I worried about the pot staying too wet but will just have to provide more heat.

I have had orchids for over 30 years but just grow for my own enjoyment and I know they would grow lusher leaves and probably produce more profuse blooms if I put a little more effort into it but they look healthy and bloom so I am happy.