How should I re pot this Phals

[jhy1]

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Picked up few orchids from farmer's market this morning for $10 each, pretty flowers. All the phals have been re potted except the first on from the right.

Please take a closed look at this plant, the body (I don't know the name) of the plant seems much taller than all the plants I ever seen. Is that a full grown keiki ? and the mother plant had one leaf left ?

How should I re pot this plant ? Cut the bottom leaf off ? pot it all the way to the base of the newer group of the leaf ? If that is the case, I will need a really tall pot. Please give me some advice, How to re pot this.

Thanks, (See pictures below)

Jim

[jhy1]

This is the funny plant !!!

[jhy1]

Sorry, This is the plant I need re pot.
http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/new...-i-re-pot.html

Thanks,

Jim

[fred]

as I can see your Phal it is in flower spike I would wait until it has finished flowering before re-potting

when you do re-pot you will need to go to the next size pot up that is slightly deeper as well.

[mayres]

WOW! Those are some EXCELLENT looking plants for only $10 apiece. It is a good think they are not available around here for that price! I would think that for that price many non-orchid growers would purchase them just for the cut flower value? (I know - what a horrid thought! ).
The plant in your 2nd post in this thread should be placed in the smallest pot that you can comfortably get all the roots placed into - with a little media round them. At least that is what I would do. I would NOT remove any leaves. Soak the roots for a few hours and then they should become pliable enough that you can wrap them in a ball shape to fit into a shorter pot than you may be imagining at this point. Good luck

[Anton]

Fred, I would say TWO sizes up.

That Phal has one Hellova lot of air roots.

[brookn]

Air roots to spare and then some. Jh1 I agree with Fred about the repot.

[jhy1]

Hi mayres,

Thank you for the fast respond. Have you notice there is one leaf kind of yellowish on the bottom ? Shold I pot up to this leaf ? or should I put this leaf under the spang ?

Thanks again

Jim

[fred]

yes the phal could go 2 sizes up but I was thinking if there are old or dead roots

so it depends on how many roots are needed to be removed

but it needs a deeper post when its done flowering

[jhy1]

The others phals I re re potted the first thing when I came back home.

Two smaller pink color "Nobby's Amy" had three spikes was potted in a round soft plastic 3 3/4" (O.D)x 4"(H) pot filled with spang and few "pop-corn", they had so many roots in there make the whole pot feel like a rock, I have to cut the pot to get the plant out. I potted in a 4 1/2" x 4"(H) pot with spang and layer of pop-corn.

The third biger plant Dtps. Nobby's Lady x (Dtps. Sinica Sunday x Phal Carol) was potted in a 4 1/2" x 4 3/4" (H) soft plastic pot, with the spang and corn, lots of very healthy roots also. I re potted into a 5" x 4 5/8" (H) clear plastic pot. I was told by a grower, the reason of why they use clear plastic pot is : The roots will search for sun light, non clear pot will develope more aireal roots. Is the true ?

Thanks,

Jim

[jhy1]

Sorry, I forgot to mention the reason I re potting is : few roots got cramp by the pot, almost start showing damage. They are so solid, will be hard to water them.

Jim

[mayres]

It is hard to say for sure from the picture provided, but appears to be a leaf on the right side of the picture that is kind of by itself lower down on the crown? If this leaf is indeed starting to yellow I would pot up to the next higher leaf. The base of the lowest leaf can be below the media level and then as soon as it turns brown you can remove it entirely.

[jhy1]

Hi, Thanks for all .

This plant was potted in a 4 1/2" x 4" (H) clear plastic pot with fine bark. the whole pot almost filled with roots, with very small amount of bark left. Those two stick were laying on the side wall, the swing all over the place.

If I don't re pot him now, should I add some fine bark in the pot, so they can hold moisture ?

The other question is when the time come to re potting, should I potting up to the bottom leaf ? or the second leaf ?
they were two inches apart, The picture is not that clear. they had about 10 aireal roots above the bottom leaf.

Jim

[jhy1]

Thank you mayres.

Sorry for the confusing. I have no idea only two pictures can attached, and I don't know how to do a quick reply and attach more picture. I have to go back and forth between to posts.

Jim

[arleneg]

jhy1,

Looking at your first pic with all plants, the second from right is not a Phal. It's a Cattleya type. I thought I'd bring that to your attention.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by jhy1

Please take a closed look at this plant, the body (I don't know the name) of the plant seems much taller than all the plants I ever seen. Is that a full grown keiki ? and the mother plant had one leaf left ?

Yeah it doesn't look like any of your other Phals because it's not a Phal, it's a Cattleya hybrid. Cattleyas need only be repotted about every other year. The mix you use on a Cattleya is different than for a Phal.

For a Phal use a moisture retentive mix. Start wiht the usual bark and charcoal and add some peat or chopped sphagnum.

For a Cattleya, use a drier mix, usually just medium or large bark, charcoal, and perelite.

The culture of these plants is different too. Phals like to be kept evenly moist, Cattleyas like to dry out between watterings. Phals like indirect light while Cattleyas like brighter light.

If you have not already done so, go to American Orchid Society and download their free culture sheets for Cattleyas and for Phals. Read them carefully and let us know if you have any questions.

[jhy1]

Hi Arleng,

Thank you point that out !!! That is the only plant i'm not plan on repotting. I heard Cattleya dose not like re potting too much.
Thanks,

Jim

[jhy1]

Hi Kmarch,

Thank you for the advice. We are posting at the same time. Just like the last post, I'm not plan on re potting in the near future. When I'm ready, I will follow your instruction.
I did quite a bits of reading before I start posting, I think American Orchid Society site is very good resource. I will keep on reading and keep on learning, Thank everyone for the input. Please keep come in !!!

Jim

[articuno75]

For as big as those roots are, I think you could be safe in using medium sized media. It just depends on where you're going to place the plants. I'd put something a little more heavier in the bottom of the pot for support so they don't become top heavy. Wow. I want one !!!

[jhy1]

Hi articuno75,

Put a piece rock on the bottom will make it stable.
Thanks,

Jim