Toppling after repot

[LFC25]

After cutting off the rotten roots there were not much roots left in my two poor Phals and I had a hard time to stabilise the plants in the new pots.

Any advice how to stabilise and prevent the plant from toppling?

Thanks in advance.

[bil]

Personally I never like cutting off dead roots for this very reason.
I understand there are specific clips you can use, but If I have a loose orchid which won't stand up, I put some rocks round it till it can support itself.

[LFC25]

Originally Posted by bil

Personally I never like cutting off dead roots for this very reason.
I understand there are specific clips you can use, but If I have a loose orchid which won't stand up, I put some rocks round it till it can support itself.

I was told to cut off dead roots, no? Am I right that The loose orchid will grow new roots and support itself in the new pot?

[Bulbopedilum]

Originally Posted by LFC25

I was told to cut off dead roots, no? Am I right that The loose orchid will grow new roots and support itself in the new pot?

In my opinion you should only cut dead roots if the plant is ok-established. I would add stones or something to stop it from toppling. Plus, it's aesthetic.

If you dont want stones, other options are bark, large chunks of tree fern fiber stuff, that weird ball thing I forgot the name of, or even charcoal.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Use a synthetic material (like monofilament fishing line) tied loosely to the base of the plant, then tying through drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Fill in the pot with growing medium after you have securely tied it.

Using a layer of stones (3 to 5 centimeter diameter) on top of the growing medium will also help stabilize the plant.

[Mountaineer370]

I have used various kinds of sticks to support a plant after repotting: the kind used for staking flower spikes, or for smaller plants, the diffuser reeds used for scented oils. Shish-kabob sticks would work fine, too. Sometimes it's enough to simply brace the stick up against the plant on whatever side or sides it wants to fall toward; other times I have used soft string to tie a portion of the plant carefully to the stick.

It has been my habit to remove all dead roots from a plant when repotting, and this has worked well for me so far, but I've only been at this for a few years and I have only a small number of plants, so there certainly may come a time -- or a plant -- where I reconsider and decide to leave some of the old roots on.

[Dollythehun]

As in most growing topics we all have differing opinions. Any if the solutions above will work. Pick that which is doable for you. Btw, I cut my dead roots off too.

[Ray]

When repotting, I always remove dead or rotting roots.

It is important to anchor the plant well, as any small amount of motion in the pot will inhibit root growth. I have used wood-, wire-, or bamboo stakes, bent-wire clips that are solidly crimped over the edges of clay pots, wire running through holes drilled or melted in plastic pots, and even wire run between two landscaping spikes - the biodegradable ones designed for anchoring cloth to the ground to suppress weeds.

[Leafmite]

I always remove roots that are dead. For a rootless orchid, if I am going to stake the orchid, I place three stakes in the pot, fill the pot with the medium I wish to use, then set the rootless orchid on top of the medium and wire it to the stakes, making certain that it cannot move.

The other option is just wiring the orchid onto the top of the medium. I use basket pots so I can run the wire through the top layer of holes and in-between pseudobulbs to hold the orchid in place.

I always pot my rootless orchids on top of the medium and let the roots grow down into the medium. It helps to prevent new pseudobulbs from rotting (when a plant is weak, it is sometimes more vulnerable to infections).

[greenpassion]

I have used seashells to prop up a plant. Not the thin white ones but the Curled heavier ones. It's also aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Like Carol said to each his own and lots of ideas to choose from...😊