Sprawling phal?

[patlee]

Hi Everyone, I am hoping this question doesn't appear too newbie-ish, but I tend to want to let nature take its course...However, I have one very old phal and one not so old phal that want to spread out across the top of the growing medium.When I repot them, do I let them follow in that wayward direction,or make them stand up straight like any other self-respecting monopodial?
Thanks in advance for your help!!

[MariahK]

Well in the wild they grow upside down so I don't believe it will hurt them, but if you would prefer the upright then I would say go ahead. I suppose my opinion is that what ever you prefer is best

[Vivienne]

I have seen many Phals that do tend to follow along the top of the medium rather than grow straight up. A lot of mine would probably prefer to do that. It could be the angle of the light source that is hitting the plant. Just a thought.

[janet_a]

when i repot mine, i pot them more upright. then they sprawl across the medium again. i'm just concerned about rot so i'm trying to minimize the contact with the medium, but they clearly have other ideas.

[patlee]

Thanks for your opinions. I guess I'll just let them grow the way they want. The idea about light hitting them at a certain angle does make sense,Vivienne. They are on a windowsill and not in a greenhouse with overheads...Thanks,again

[Vivienne]

With them sitting on the windowsill... do you turn them at all or do you leave them in the same position? I do find that my plants will start the 'medium lean' if they aren't rotated regularly... so every week they get a quarter turn.

[elitebettas]

I would not worry too much, I had the same problem with a few of my phals, it was impossible to get them to stay upright when repotting time came around. I've just learned to live with em, lol. Below are pics of either side of the extreme.

[tom499]

As MariahK said, in the wild they grow upside down, so when put in pots, they will naturally grow at a 45 degree angle however you arrange them.

As long as the leaves get good light and theres no chance of the pot tipping i wouldnt worry much

[jerrymeola]

They are just doing their natural thing. Since they grow down in the wild they will spread across the top of the pot and down over the side it you let them.