My mini phal with basal keiki.

[Birdie]

After reading through the forum, I see it is best to leave this keiki with its mother. However, I'm not sure if it might need repotting soon. I last repotted it in Aug 2010 after purchase & it produced a keiki bud in Jan 2011. Any suggestions? The mother plant bloomed beautifully for me from April 'til June.

[Raver]

Your plants looks so healthy and it has alot of roots which are still growing. If it was up to me i would repot it but you will have to cut the pot to be able to take out the plant safely. GOod luck

[mmursuli]

Gorgeous plant! How on earth are you planning on repotting it without damaging some of those roots? I have a few orchids in the same type of netted pot and their roots are doing the same thing.

[poetiscariot]

On getting a plant with roots like that out of a net pot, I'd take a small, very sharp paring knife and carefully cut the pot/basket away. And you definitely don't have to divide your plant if you don't want to. Growth is just growth -- it won't weaken the plant at all to leave it in one piece, and I think you may be able to get bloom spikes from both sets of leaves.

[opaline]

You can use another approach and cut away the plastic where its root free and safe and repot pot-in-pot! Some orchids sulk for ages and halt any progress if trauma occurs and the time it would take to doctor the root removal from the current plastic pot may not be something you want to invest too much time in but will work just as good. Your plant could mature into a brilliant specimen with the baby left with mother. Think of the chance of extra spikes!

[Birdie]

Thanks everyone! I know when I repot that I will have to CAREFULLY cut away the net pot from the roots. All of my orchids grow in oxygen core pots - have had GREAT results with these! I need to order more. I will probably hold off on repotting for a couple more weeks 'til I bring my Dendrobium & Cattleya inside & repot them as well. I will definitely just leave the keiki with the mother. This plant had amazing blooms & would be even better if the keiki also flowers! I also need to rig up something on my kitchen window sill so my poor orchids stop getting knocked into the sink by my hubby & kids. My window sill is not wide enough, even for these small pots. I want a plant window there but the budget doesn't allow for it. Thanks again!!

[espranch]

I completely agree with this statement. And, if the smaller phal. has at least two or three roots, it would be best if it too, had its own pot. Betty

Your plants looks so healthy and it has alot of roots which are still growing. If it was up to me i would repot it but you will have to cut the pot to be able to take out the plant safely. GOod luck

[cdayinflorida]

very healthy plant!

[nicki]

Mary post an update when you do repot this Phal. I'm curious to know how it went, I also have a couple of those pots and haven't had to repot yet.

[espranch]

Since I tend not to do well with phals, I have just recently mounted mine. I'm thinking that they'll do better now...Another experiment. I'll let everyone know the results in a couple of months...Betty :-)