On Phal (and others) Roots
 

Hi All--

As some of you know I'm new to the forum and to Orchids and I have read LOADS of stuff about them-- all I pretty much understand and get but there is one thing bugging me.

While repotting my new plants today I was trying desperately, but carefully, to get my bark, char, perlite mixture into the pot around all the gnarly roots of one of my phals. It was then that I began wondering just how important it was to get as much medium around the roots as possible? The plant is definitely anchored in its pot and it definitely has a lot of medium in with it but there are some gaps of air where a root prevents any medium from getting in and was too far in or down the pot for me to poke some in...

So the question is, when it comes to orchid roots (specifically Phals), is it not important just to provide a space, whether it is touching medium or not, where moist air can circulate and water run down whenever I water-- and in doing so will provide what the plant needs to grow and be healthy?

I guess what I'm saying is, I'm sort of looking at these roots and thinking there is no way they are like the typical plant root one might think of and it is really a root that is capable of drawing in what it needs whether it is in just moist air or up against something that is moist-- but never submerge like the root of a daisy might be.

Considering these things will grow aerial roots, is this just another way these roots will function? Case-in-point, when I mist the shriveled aerial roots of my new plants, they all plumped up and began looking like something you would expect to see.

For my own self-edification, I'm asking this because my pots are full of roots (they looked pretty good btw but I think some were stained a lighter brown from the old medium-- they were still firm) and the medium isn't as fine as the old stuff was. So there is a lot of air in there.

Am I on the right track here?

Thanks--
Ryan

Hi Ryan. Your always gonna get air pockets, I think it's impossible not to but you want to try and avoid a cavern of an air pocket. But in the case with your Phal the roots on the surface provide nutrients to the plant and the roots in the pot provide an anchor. Good luck!

Air pockets aren't a huge problem. But in the future, one thing that helps is to firmly tap the pot on the table after every handle of bark you add. This helps settle it in the spots you can't reach.

Wet the roots. Things will come off the roots easier. Wetting them also makes them more pliable and more resistant to damage during repotting.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll remember that for next time. Before I potted them up, I did read in a book I got from the library called "Moth Orchids" that mentioned watering the plant well the day before repotting AND putting the new medium in water to soak for 24 hours. I did just that and the roots in their old medium came out loose and damp and the roots were plump but pliable. So the procedure works well.

I've been out on my in-laws ranch for the weekend so it'll be interesting to see if my plants still look happy when I return.

I live in Colorado and we're battling severely low humidity this weekend. I only hope my humidifier has enough water in the reservoir to keep the flat in good condition. I do have them sitting above humidity trays, too.

Again-- I hope these guys survive-- they're so freaking cool! :rofl: