Orchid advice. please

Discussion in 'Tropical Gardening' started by Fof, Jul 30, 2023.

  1. barryman

    barryman Gardener

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    Everything seems much better since I followed advice NY cutting off dead and decaying roots and repotted into new Orchid mix. Aerial roots now springing up all around the plant so i think we're well on road to recovery. Many thanks.
     
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    • Fof

      Fof Gardener

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      Quick question.
      When I moved the Phal to a holey pot, I did wonder about roots popping out.
      Well it now has roots exploring from the holes. I don't plan to do anything with them, but I can see a potential issue at some point in the future when I need to repot.
      I guess the pot would have to be surgically removed.
      Anyone else use these pots? Any tips?
      By the way, the flower spike is now nearly 6" tall and still growing.
       
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      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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        I think you always lose some roots when repotting but I've never tried pots with holes so cant say, yes probably best to cut the pot up to get the plant out.
        I dont repot very often, not like with most other plants.
         
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        • CarolineL

          CarolineL Total Gardener

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          I find these pots quite fragile, especially the ones from white plastic. So I try to preserve good roots even if I have to take secateurs to pot to open up the holes when repotting
          Edit:Beat me to it Pete!
           
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          • Kitte

            Kitte Gardener

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            I have recently spent an afternoon repotting all my orchids. So many dead roots and now they luxuriate in new white holey pots. I had to destroy several of the old pots as the roots were coming through the bottoms, but as they were disintegrating anyway, it didn’t matter. Haven’t thought about any roots coming through the holes, as that won’t be for a while yet, but would it matter if the roots were cut off? As long as there were plenty of roots still within the pots, would they survive a bit of roots loss? Good point though, those pesky pots aren’t cheap !
            I’m attaching a little preliminary video I took, when the white pots arrived, pre repotting, but when I get properly organised, I’ll do another one ! Oh, video was too long ! IMG_0709.jpeg
             
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            • Fof

              Fof Gardener

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              I've not come across white, holey pots. The ones I have a clear.
              Kitte. Are yours potted up in non-holey pots and then stood in holey ones? Or are they holeys in holeys?
              I potted mine in a holey pot, directly, and it only took a few weeks before the roots located the holes
               
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              • pete

                pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                I always think these roots are needed, just because they are coming through the holes it doesn't mean they need repotting, the roots are designed by nature to take water from the atmosphere, its the ones in the compost that often rot.
                Most of mine have more roots outside the pots than inside and I spray them with dilute feed every day.
                 
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                • Kitte

                  Kitte Gardener

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                  In the picture, I just stood the old un-holey pots in the white ones with holes, they are now potted up properly in the holey ones. I was so excited, that I couldn’t wait to see what they would look like, big kid !

                  This is what they look like now !
                   

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                  • Fof

                    Fof Gardener

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                    As I inferred, I would rather sacrifice the pot (as and when required) then needlessly cut away the roots.
                    Nice one Kitte
                     
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                    • Kitte

                      Kitte Gardener

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                      We shall see !
                       
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                      • Fof

                        Fof Gardener

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                        As Kitte said in post #15, I must be doing something right.
                        The first of 7 buds is now in the process of opening. :yes::hapydancsmil::yes:

                        20240104_120641 - small.jpg

                        And it's definately NOT blue, as my daughter told me.
                         
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                        • Balc

                          Balc Total Gardener

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                          I had a blue one gifted to me by our daughter. When it flowered in subsequent years it was white! Though the blue & pink where very nice these colours in Orchids are not natural.
                           
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                          • On the Levels

                            On the Levels Super Gardener

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                            You need to put in on a gravel tray so that when you spray/water with rain water this will increase the humidity.
                             
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                            • Fof

                              Fof Gardener

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                              About time for an update.
                              The Phal is still sitting with 6 flowers that opened in January. 3 months now.
                              I noticed, yesterday, what appears to be a new flower spike shooting out from the flower spike.
                              Is this normal?
                              P1100863 - small.jpg
                              In relation to the flowers
                              P1100873 - small.jpg

                              Fof
                               
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                              • pete

                                pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                                Yes its normal but mostly, I have found, after the flowers above are finished.
                                 
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