Phals and pot size

[hcubed]

So, generally I know that phals should not be over-potted and prefer to have tighter fitting pots.

The question is, how tight is too tight? When is it time to move up to a slightly larger pot?


Any tips would be great!

[Ron-NY]

I make that decision after I pull the plant from the medium and see the root mass. Not too many roots get smaller pot. I don't believe I ever used a pot larger than 6 inches

[hcubed]

So if there are lots of roots in the bottom you would move it up a bit?

[Brutal_Dreamer]

So if there are lots of roots in the bottom you would move it up a bit?

I do. Phals usually grow their additional roots out of the pot for me. Once I unpot them, they are really root bound in the pot. I clean them up and remove any that are not healthy and put them in a slightly larger pot so that I can get some media around them.

Cheers,
BD

[hcubed]

Do either of these qualify? (sorry for the bad pics, pot didn't photograph well...)

[leisurely]

If all of those are good roots I would say it definitely qualifies for a slightly larger pot. If it is growing in a 4", bump it up to a 6". However, if you find a lot of decayed roots that must be removed, then the root system, after cleaning, may fit back into the same size pot.

[hcubed]

The first one is really tiny - maybe a 2 inch pot - but it is a VERY mini plant, so I have no idea how much larger it would get and if this pot size is the largest it wants (seems really small, but it is blooming already) or if it will grow a bit larger.

The second one can probably wait a bit, I was just curious what people think.

[sand_tiger86]

What healthy green roots on that first phal! Mine always looked like poo. I have given up on phals. *hugs my dendrobiums...and my catts.*

[hcubed]

Well, I only got it yesterday....(as a present). It's SO mini!

It's in entirely sphag which worries me, I will be very miserly with the water and see how things go! My other phals are in bark or s/h to prevent the "poo"-optic-effect...