Repot and is this a root or a spike???

[menuet]

Hi, my phal is growing like crazy right now. It has a new leaf, to make 10 in total, a new spike (which has stalled btw), four new roots and 3 bumps. and all the roots I can see are putting out new growth...even the old aerial root is growing two new roots (you can see if you look close in the photo). Guessing the spike stall is b/c it's busy growing roots, huh?

Since it is growing now, does it look like it needs to be repotted? It looks really happy where it is to me, but does it need a larger pot? I have attached some photos for you to look at. Someone said in one of the posts that if you get a lot of aerial roots that it might not be happy in the potting material, and a lot of the roots are headed up, tho it's hard to see in the photos. Also, it looks like it has a root growing out of the crotch of a leaf. What do you think? Aren't only spikes supposed to grow there???? Maybe someone's just been feeding my phal coffee while I'm not looking and it's going haywire....

This is my favorite plant, and when it blooms (the first time I will have gotten an orchid to bloom ) it will be my avatar...I am waiting for it. It has beautiful yellow flowers.

[kmarch]

I would not repot it now, especially since it is in spike. When was it last repotted?

[menuet]

Kmarch. I don't know....I bought it last year, and haven't repotted it, so I guess whenever the nursery repotted it last. The bark medium looks like it might be breaking down to me, can you see the small particle size inside the pot? but I've only been growing orchids for a year, so dont have that much experience. That's one of the reasons I was thinking it might need a repot. But am trusting on ya'lls vast experience, rather than my "hmm, maybe..."

[patticake]

Nice!!! The little nubs look like roots. The tips are green and slightly pointed. They will pop out roots going up the "stalk". The re-pot choice is yours. The new roots are still small, so this could be a good time. Be careful of the spike. After a while, when the plant gets situated, the spike should start up again. I'm not an expert, by far!

[patlee]

That's one happy looking plant As Kmarch says, if it ain't broken, don't try to fix it. You should give a Phal. new medium every year or so, though. So if it's been a while, you might want to repot it after it blooms. Phals. can usually be repotted any time, but there is always the chance of accidentlly breaking the spike, so I would wait.
As for your runaway root--they grow wherever they want Don't give it another thought...And I can't wait to see your new avatar

[menuet]

Thanks, Patti. My phal loves my cubicle, even if I don't . I that was a root in the leaf. Weird, I guess it ran out of room elsewhere? OK, maybe I will repot...Kmarch has a good point about the spike, but that spike's been sitting there for around 3 months. I might take it to Quarter Acre Farms to get it repot for me, they're close and they'd take proper care of it I think. I'm a little nervous, b/c my other plants are rescues. This is the only healthy one I have (after I learned how to buy a good plant....wonder where I learned that from )

[menuet]

Thanks Patlee I am very proud of my plant (is it obvious?) especially since my other rescues are kinda bedraggled still. Makes me happy that I can actually grow a healthy one I can't wait to see my avatar either! The suspense is killing me Well, since people are split on the repot, I think I will wait a little. If still no movement on the spike, then I will repot. If it starts growing again, then I'll leave it till it finishes blooming. Sound like a plan?

[norris]

Hi menuet, I'm wondering if the spike stalled because it's not getting enough light. What kind of light does it get?

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

One way to check bark in the pot is to put your finger on the top of an area somewhat devoid of roots and press down. If your finger goes in, it is time to repot and watch the watering very carefully until repotted. If it resists your finger press, it is fine and no rush.

[menuet]

I have the plant about 10cm below the fluorescent lights in my cube, and sometimes I put it on a west facing windowsill (when I'm on travel). I put another phal in the same spot on my desk, and it got red leaves right away, so I moved it, but this one still has green leaves under the same conditions. It gets a lot of light for a phal (I think), but I think Ill try leaving it on the windowsill for a bit (where it'll get changes in the light instead of a constant light). Good suggestion, thanks

Thank you for the bark watering tips. I usually water about once a week, flush a lot and soak the unglazed clay pot so it's a little damp. I love that pot, but haven't been able to find another like it. Haven't tried the push-down thing. Will try it later this week (just watered yesterday).

Thank you everyone! I appreciate all the tips and advice, and hope to have an avatar soon

[articuno75]

Is it truely a Baldan's Kaleidescope, or is it a cross? Once it blooms it stays in bloom almost forever, one of the longest blooming Phals. (Reason why it's on the wish list ) Awesome!!!