Container and Medium Advice For Repotting Phal with Huge, Healthy Roots?

[Bahar]

Hi All.

This is my first post. I've been growing orchids for 2-3 years (mostly phals). I have a Phal that had been in the same pot that I bought it in for two and a half years. It was in bark (nothing else) in clear plastic pot that was inside a terra cotta pot with hole in the bottom. The plant was really healthy: always growing new leaves and/or roots and flowered sometimes twice a year. The plant flowered this past January and the flowers stayed on for 5 months- the last one fell off a few days ago. It started growing a new leaf about 3 weeks ago, while still in flower. Also, had tons of aerial roots.

Last night I tried to repot it into a clear plastic 5 inch pot. I had no idea what the roots looked like beacuse the plastic pot was completely stuck inside the terra cotta pot. So, once I broke the clay pot, I saw that the root system was massive. The roots were all twirled and twisted around each other, especially at the bottom. The roots on top were extremely thick and hard (like immovable hard. I had to cut the plastic pot to get the plant out of it as well. The bark inside looked good (not really decomposed) and I found no rooted roots- although the roots in the center are a yellowish color, they are really firm, not mushy. Anyway, here is the problem:

Once I untangled the roots to get the old bark off, I realized the roots would not fit into the new 5 inch pot. I needed a much taller and slightly wider pot. The problem is, I didn't have one! The only thing I had (with drainage) that would accommodate the plant was one of those fancy decorative ceramic pots with the holes/openings around the sides. Having no choice, I repotted it into that (I used the Better-Gro Phal Mix with coarse bark, peat, coarse perlite and charcoal, which I had soaking in water/physan for 6 days). I need to get it into a plastic pot of the right size because with my growing conditions and watering habits, I'm worried about the lack of moisture in that ceramic pot with huge holes in it. Plus, the pot is a bit larger than necessary and I'm worried the mix in the center will stay wet while the mix around the edged and top will dry really fast.

I have to repot it again, but I have to first order the right pot and more mix, which will take a couple of days to get as I have to buy it all online. I'm going out of town tomorrow for 6 days, and my husband will be the only one here to keep an eye on it. Here are my questions:

1) I need a clear pot that's 6 in wide by 6 in high. Where can I find a pot with that height? The only thing I've seen that may work is the 6 inch Air-cone pot on Firstrays.com Does anyone know if that means it's 6x6 or only 6 inches wide? Any info would be appreciated.

2) I'm worried about stressing the poor plant by repotting it again in a week, but don't see any other choice. I don't think it's wise leave it in that pot. Will it be able to tolerate the stress of a second repotting, and is there anything I can do to minimize the stress? It is currently growing a new leaf and numerous new roots.

3) While I'm out of town, how often should I tell my husband to water it? The medium is still quite wet from last night. Like I said, the new mix was soaking in water (1 gallon mixed with teaspoon of Physan) for 6 days right up until I repotted it. I didn't strain it or anything, I just scooped up a handful at a time and let the excess water run through my gloved fingers before dropping into the new pot. In the old pot (plastic) and medium (just bark), I watered it once every 7-8 days and it thrived. Now that it's in a ceramic pot with decorative holes and in a bark, charcoal, peat moss, and perlite mix, I'm thinking it may need to be watered on the fourth day after repotting? I'm not sure that he'll be able to tell by looking/feeling when it's drying out...

4) When I order the new pot, I also need to order new media. I'm thinking of getting the Better Off Moist Orchiata mix (coarse) from Firstrays.com. If I do get that, it should retain more moisture than just plain bark. Also, I've never used Orchiata before. Any thoughts?

Thanks!!