MINI PHAL Potting Question

[Warinsbloom]

one of my mini phals came potted in moss. I just wonder if I should take it out of the covering pot ( the decorative pot ) So that the roots have some better air circulation. I know I should repot it into a bark based medium, but the plant seems to be doing ok. Will keeping it out of the outer pot help prevent the roots from getting rot??
I am an paranoid of rot, since one of my other bigger phals got rot in the crown awhile back....do those outer pots serve no purpose?

[cakedaddy]

Hi Desiree....Those decorative pots do serve a purpose! To look pretty for the consumer. I would take the plant out personally. If the inner pot has holes for drainage then that can allow some air flow as long as the sphag medium isnt too wet. I never did too well with sphag. It was either too wet or too dry. The decision to repot into another medium depends on your watering habits. I just think that a bark-based medium is easier and less likely to lead to problems in the future since it allows more air to reach the root system and doesn't stay so sodden when you water.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Hi Desiree....Those decorative pots do serve a purpose! To look pretty for the consumer. I would take the plant out personally. If the inner pot has holes for drainage then that can allow some air flow as long as the sphag medium isnt too wet. I never did too well with sphag. It was either too wet or too dry. The decision to repot into another medium depends on your watering habits. I just think that a bark-based medium is easier and less likely to lead to problems in the future since it allows more air to reach the root system and doesn't stay so sodden when you water.

I agree!

Cheers,
BD

[Warinsbloom]

I have noticed with the sphag it stays too wet for longer periods of time. Thanks I think its time to repot!!

[Phyrex]

I agree too.
That said once your collection reaches triple digits you're likely to go back to sphag because it takes fewer waterings. At least that's what happened to me. I'm naturally lazy :P

[Warinsbloom]

There isn't alot of drainage slots on the upper part of inner pot. Should I cut my own verical "vents" in the pot?

[Phalcycle]

You don't have to repot to bark.
Some growers including myself perfer moss, because personally, I dont have time to water, and sometimes, moss allows me to go about 10 days until next watering.

just make sure its not packed moss, try repotting, and loose moss instead if too wet

[Daethen]

Rather than starting a new thread, I will tag onto this one. I have a mini phal that I got a month or so ago. It has flowered before. It is in what seems to be packed sphag as it takes forever for water to work its way through. It is very healthy looking and has a lot of roots. The roots turn green as soon as watered. I wonder if I should repot this one? It seems to me that it is very tight in its little tiny pot, but I don't want to stress it unless I need to.

[Phalcycle]

sometimes sphag is packed really tight to stablize the plant.
I would take the plant out, and repot with a light flffy sphag

[Daethen]

Thanks Jay.