Did I overpot my phal?
 

I just bought a phal in a 6" pot from hausermanns. It had some noticable root damage so i repotted it into bark and down into a 5 inch pot. there was probably at least half an inch to an inch surrounding the roots of space in the new pot when i repotted it. Was that wrong and should i have repotted it in a smaller pot... if so what should i do now? if it makes a difference the pot is slotted.

You may have used a bit larger pot than needed but if you're careful to water when the center of the pot is getting dry you'll be fine.
Joann

A pot that isn't slotted is unsuitable for orchids..........unless you have a greenhouse. Even then, they're a poor choice.

I always try to repot my phals into a pot that the roots just fit into. That makes it harder to overwater in general. Smaller pots = less material to hold moisture. That being said, the slots will help the bark dry more evenly and you should be ok. Just be careful and maybe try a wooden kabob skewer pushed into the middle of the pot. If you pull it out and its almost dry it's time to rewater. Good luck

I find the kebab skewer a very valuable yet inexpensive tool for determining when to water. Well worth doing!

I agree that you just need to be careful watering. The skewer method is a good tool. If you're not sure if it's dry enough it's better to wait another day. If you're using the clear plastic pots with slits, those are my favorite phal pots. If you see condensation inside the pot or if the roots look green, it doesn't need to be watered. Get used to feeling the weight of the pot also. You can tell by the weight if there's still moisture inside. In the future it's a good practice to use the smallest pot you can get the roots into. Good luck.

There is nothing more maddening than self appointed experts revealing their unrealized ignorance to the rest of the world ! There is NOTHING definite in the world of orchid culture except that everyone's environment and culture is different !!! I have 145 orchids I've been growing for 7 years now and 95% are in plastic pots with NO slots !!! AND I grow inside a HOUSE under lights, no greenhouse for me !!! Excuse me for saying so but your statement was an "unsuitable poor choice" revealing your ignorance !!!

4 or 5" pot shouldn't matter too much if you're careful watering. Actually, if you want to cut down on the amount of sphag used, you can always put in several styrofoam peanuts from the packing store at the bottom of each pot. This way, there is less sphag to get wet and hold water, but also, it really helps with drainage. Just my 2 cents though, but it really helps me out, especially in my growing conditions in winter.

Everyone, please remember to play nicely with each other, even when we disagree. Thank you.

The pot sounds like it may be slightly too large, but if you use the skewer and are careful not to water too often you should be fine. Better to err on the side of caution. The saying is that you can't water an orchid enough, but you can water an orchid too often.

I agree with the others, I think it should be ok, just be careful with watering. Using a skewer is always helpful. As Tucker says, also, in a clear pot, you can judge by the color of the roots.

A slotted pot is not the only kind of pot that many people successfully grow orchids in. I hope you are just referring to drainage holes in the bottom...otherwise, the statement you made is completely inaccurate.

I have a number of orchids doing well in standard pots - growing outdoors, and in windowsills. I know that a lot of our very seasoned orchid growing members generally use standard pots. I suspect when you have a lot of plants, especially bigger ones, it's a lot less expensive to get standard pots. Pots definitely should drain well, regardless of other features ...

If you feel it could be put in a smaller pot, I would repot again, being careful not to do any unnecessary damage. You are going to be the one watering it for the next year or two, so I would make it easier on yourself and repot. And put white styrofoam peanuts in any larger spaces in the pot. :)

ah - maybe we ARE misunderstanding

oh, wow....Thanks for that timely tip! I've been successfully growing orchids for nearly 35 years. Only some of my plants are housed in slotted clay pots!