What do you use to stabilize the plants
 

I moved a couple of Phals to semi-hydro and the roots on one aren't in the greatest condition and it moves in the pot every time I touch it. The roots in the other are great and it still moves a little when I pick it up to flush it. What do you guys use to keep the plants stable until the roots grow into the media?

I'm using plastic 32 oz deli cups and I haven't come up with a good solution so far.

Do the roots go down into the medium, or are they just near the very top? I plant my Phals so the leaves are nestled into the top of the LECA balls, and I haven't had a problem with a little wiggling.

On the one I'm most concerned about, the roots go down into the LECA about an inch. That said, I could move it down further, maybe another inch, but I think I'll still have the same problem with it wiggling.

I wouldn't worry about it. I haven't had any problems with wiggling. Keeping it warm and humid is the most important thing, but you live in southern Florida. It should begin new roots pretty quickly. Maybe treat with KelpMax from First Rays. That's what I use for promoting rooting.

I gently put my fingers on top of the media and plant and hold it in place when I water. That doesn't help if I bump it and it shifts but at least keeps the plant from rising when I water.

I've tried rhizome clips but the ones I have don't go on the deli containers well at all. It was a square pot so it worked better, but I have also used that green, stretchy gardeners tape with success for stabilizing a plant. I haven't tried it on the deli containers though.

Get some of those bamboo or wooden skewers intended for shish-kabob, and stick one or two all the way down into the medium on either side of the plant, right up against it. They're easy to remove once the plant had grown some roots.

Perfect, Ray! I actually have some of those in the house.

estacion seca I have it sitting on top of my bearded dragon's UV light because it's warmer than the house and I actually have it in a tray of water to help with the humidity. It's winter here in South Florida so the humidity is pretty low. I'm also using KelpMax from Ray.

Salixx The only rhizome clips I have go on clay pots so I didn't even bother trying.

Thanks, everyone!

I make a small hole in the plastic pot and put a wooden skewer in it. It's not a good idea to put the skewer into the media because it molds pretty quick. I have a phal that has little roots and I have 3 skewers holding it where I want it. Good luck!


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For sympodial orchids, I use a hook or two made out of wire taped to the outside of the pot. For phals, I usually just hold it like Salixx does. Alternatively, you could use twisty ties or some string on top of one of the lower leaves taped to the outside of the pot. It's kind of ugly, but you can remove them once the plant is stable.