Two Phalaenopsis planted in one pot

[cra323]

Hi all! The newbie needs more advice

My husband brought me home a phal. the other day that he bought from Lowes. It is a beautiful plant, but it needs some help. Upon closer inspection, it looks as if two phals. were planted in one pot, and the moss was packed really tightly. Most of the roots (that I can see) look decent, but there are several that have dried up and have hollow tips. The flowers are in the process of dropping off, so I'd like to repot this if possible.

My main question is: should I separate these phals in separate pots, or repot them together? And what about roots that look firm and healthy, then are dried up for a couple inches, and then look firm and healthy again towards the tips (hoping that makes sense)?

P.S.- told the hubs that from now on he's only allowed to buy me orchids when I'm around )

[LovePhals]

If they are two separate plants and not attached I would repot them separately in a new mix. Since they are adult plants they don't need to be in the same pot. Cut off any bad roots and place in a pot just big enough for the roots.
What do the flowers look like?

[cra323]

That's what I figured, but wanted to ask someone with a little more experience.

[LovePhals]

Very nice flowers! Since it is spring, I am sure once you get it into it's new mix it will start growing roots. Good luck with it.

[RosieC]

I agree. When you unpot them, if they separate easily then pot them up separately. If you find they are attached, or even if the roots are so tightly meshed with each other it's hard to separate, then I would pot them back up together rather than risk damage while trying to separate them.

Really pretty flowers by the way.

[giuseppeorchids]

your husband has bought two phal at the price of one, lucky! I agree with all others: repot them in different pot, there are too tight

[MattWoelfsen]

Beautiful plants and flowers cra323. Your husband obviously knows and appreciates beauty! Unfortunately for me, I do not have someone who appreciates the things I enjoy! LOL! Over a year ago, I acquired an orchid that was a little bit above Lowes' normal price range for orchids.

The flowers were beautiful and the plants were large and healthy. I bought it. After the flowers faded--a little over three months--I repotted the plants. You will find that the plants are tightly packed together. Once I unravelled the moss from the roots, the plants easily separated. These were two individuals that bloomed at the same time, had the same flower that the grower thought would be of greater value and more spectacular as one potted plant.

A year later, both plants are blooming again and the leaves have grown larger. These are huge plants! Since I am running out of space, I'm thinking that I should have kept them together.

[jai_star]

I had the same experience i kept one and gave one to a friend.

[Daethen]

I would say do NOT stop your hubby from buying you plants. It is very pretty and he got you a two for one. You can always use one of them for trade.

[HighSeas]

I grow all kinds of orchids but still LOVE the phals! They mount so nicely and their blooms last for months and months. I think how you grow them depends on your own tastes. Personally, I don't separate them.

I just hit the "death row" cart at Lowes today and picked up four very nice plants, one of which was two plants in one pot. I always mount them together and they almost always bloom together as well. Makes for a beautiful show that lasts for many months! Yours are quite nice! I would suggest that you get them out of that moss quickly!