Phals

[EmilySterling]

I am new at this site and am having a problem trying to get my question to the members to be answered. I sent a e-mail to Dave the administrator and meant for everyone to see it but it ended up private so I will try again if anyone can help me with this site please let me now. My question was I have a Phal that I transplanted several months ago it is still green but it is wobbly in the pot like it isnt rooted on to anything I checked to see if the roots were shriveled but they werent at least not all of them What are air roots I have no idea I got shoots coming out from it but dont know what they are.If someone has a pic of what the roots should look like and the air roots please tell me. I am so new at this I feel dumb. Thank you

[Dave]

Hi Emily,
For info on how to use this forum please go here

I like your avatar , as for your orchid it sounds like you are underwatering it. When you water make sure you give it a good water...new bark sometimes has a hard time absorbing water and often repells it. You could try placing your orchid in a shallow bowl of water (when it is time to water you orchid) and let your orchid site for about 20 minutes in the water.

The reason your orchid is wobbly is probably because the roots have shrivelled up to a great extent and can not grab onto anything.

One another note...did you presoak the bark when you did the transplant? A lot of orchid mixes say to soak the bark over night before using the bark medium. Just a tip for the future.

[Aniko]

Hi Emili,
Air roots are not very different from the normal roots, they try to reach and grab new areas on a tree in the wild.If they can't, just hang in the air and get greenish silky color because participate in photosynthesis.The other roots, covered by the growing medium are white.So, roots often come out of the pot, nothing to worry about..
What kind of potting medium has your phal?
If you give us a more specific description of your problem, we can help easier.
Aniko.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

It is proper practice to press the mix down fairly well into the pot when you are putting the new mix into the pot. A properly potted plant should allow you to lift the pot by only lifting the plant, altho I have had one or two that would not cooperate. If you want to correct loose mix, wet the mix very well first so that the roots of the plant are failrly pliable and will give without breaking while you pack the mix in tighter.