I like to give my Phal roots more legroom..so I have them in a bigger container with side holes, and I make the plant lean a bit to the side, so the lower end is raised above the media. It already has roots so it does not need to be sitted too low into the media. It seems to like it better that way than being too choked tightly inside a container. If I have the space and humidity I would gladly mount them, but alas, I can't.
So far they seem happier now..and in bloom or spike too.
I do not use a lot of those chemicals either, seems more trouble when the plant is still trying to adjust especially when newly repotted.
This is my noid Phal that blooms yearly, this year it is giving me two spikes: This is still in its bark mix media
And this is my Phal Baldan's Kaleidoscope, it took awhile to adjust since I repotted it in 2013 and then changed again the media in 2014. But now it is in bloom. And those roots always finds a way to escape, just loves to get its own taste of air. I have repotted this using hygrolon wrapped in epiweb with some lava rock, some leca rocks and packing peanuts scattered loosely below
The Phal orchid in the white container is Phal stuartiana 'Sogo', it also likes sending out those long aerial roots..so I let it be. This one is still in bark mix.
We all have our potting media preferences and it does take them awhile to adjust to the repot. I guess it is also the timing when you do it. But what is important, give those roots good air circulation. It may take a few months to half a year at times, just depends on your local growing conditions there too.