another

I would wait until Spring. It looks happy and healthy. Air roots are normal, that's how they grow.

Jane

I don't understand this new way of growing orchids. 20 years ago when I only had cattleyas, we potted them up so the roots tucked neatly into a clay pot. Now I have orchids with roots growing all over the place. Is it just new types being produced that do that or what? 20 years ago my cattleyas bloomed all the time. Now it is a struggle for me and the set up is exactly the same.

Orchids have been growing around the planet for much more than 20 years and are still doing what they do. Catts. in nature will have roots hugging a tree or a rock cliff. orchids growing in situ A link to pictures of orchids in nature.

The better we imitate our orchids conditions in nature the more flowers we get. And bigger and better. Orchid roots are a sign of health. Especially if they have translucent tips. If the roots have a break in them I will trim to the break. They do not like being broken...

The phal looks very healthy with 2 spikes. Enjoy the bloom. That will be a long time.

I trim all of my air roots off purely for aesthetics. My phals are beautiful. They really are quite hardy once you get the basics down. You can repot it and tuck the roots into the new medium or just cut them off. You'd be surprised how well an orchid will grow with a tiny amount of roots. This coming from repoting several over watered phals where I had to chop of the majority of the roots.

I personally would never cut off the aerial roots. They might be the only roots keeping the plant alive. Those that grew outside the mix can be teased into the mix but they would have to form new roots.

What I do is place the plant in its pot inside a larger pot. I stick a few pieces of Styrofoam or a few chunks of wood chips between the two pots to keep the smaller pot from rocking and breaking the roots. Phals like growing this way and will usually grow within the empty space.

It gives the aerial roots some humidity and space to grow until Springtime when you can repot.

Jane

I too think the aerial roots add to the beauty of the plant! Once again, beauty in the eye of the beholder!

If they are the only roots keeping the plant alive then you need to work on your watering procedures....

B.nodosa is a totally different orchid that is not a Caspar Milktoast like a Phalaenopsis.

After fiddling around with Phalaenopsis for eons of time. I am having some success.

Spent some money keeping them warmer this last winter.

Went to Orchidnicks pot within a pot method.

Plants look a bit untidy with roots in the mix , up in the air, in other words all over the place.

But a day of reckoning will come when I do have to repot and have to unscramble the jigsaw.

I still think Phals might be easier to grow in a nice centrally heated home in Northern USA than here where it never snows but the climate is not right for them.

Arthur is absolutely correct. The pot-in-pot works so well with Phals.

CJ, you can look at the roots inside the pot, but those are old roots. If they are healthy, great. But if not, those aerial roots are keeping the plant alive.

Some times I cut Phals heads off when they get too tall and leggy, keeping those aerial roots and repot to shorten the plant. The plant doesn't miss a beat because those are the new roots which are feeding the plant. I would never, never cut off those new roots.

You are lucky this has worked for you but is certainly nothing I would recommend doing.

Dampen those air roots and put the pot inside a bigger pot. They love it and grow very well. Saves damage to the roots and helps them growing in a house over winter with central heating.

Jane

Well CJ, what happens when I get 5 or 6 spikes from a one year division? Maybe you'd recommend I cut those spikes as the plant was poorly watered? If a one year division provides so much new growth and the flowering is just beginning, how could there be any problem, watering included? But then again why would I ask you anything with crazy advice like cutting perfectly healthy roots? If I made a movie about a monster hating orchid plants, you'd be the star!

SM, here you go again! Perhaps CJ does not have a B. nodosa and is not aware of its requirements.

It is, as you know, a high temperature tolerant, high light orchid that is best grown on a slab,or on lava rock or as mine is on a slab stuck in an empty pot.

To cut any orchid root for aesthetics is a cardinal sin to any orchid! This kind of information harms new orchid growers. Hard to say how many might try this crazy harmful practice. I must make an effort to override this nonsense!

Ridiculous statements. Why would I cut flower spikes? Comparing cutting aerial roots to cutting off flower spikes is asinine. And so is your attack on me. Really? I was just giving her advice on the phal. All of my orchids are gorgeous specimens so I have confidence in what I'm saying.

Orchid hating monster? You sound like an idiot. I wasn't even talking to you? You need to grow up and stop getting so butt hurt on comments that weren't even meant for you. Really. Get a life.

keep them roots real short! I need to offset your destructive approach to orchids. Inexperienced will read that and do the wrong thing. Can't have that. Cutting flower spikes is almost as dumb as cutting roots!

The plant came with aerial roots broken every inch or two. The actual plant is packed in a pot with some sphagnum. I am not doing anything until it blooms, if it does. I have had it for 10 days and the spikes show no signs of doing anything. I have it with my cattleyas but away from the lights, 70% humidity water + weak fert (Peters) once a week and misted every day on humidity trays.

Shavedmonkey, I am in PA. The "orchid room" faces East. I have potted many, many cattleyas but have now expanded my collection to include a few onc., maxillaria and now this phal. It's a good one so I hope I don't screw it up!

Cutting flower spikes is idiotic and is no where near the same as cutting roots. Maybe you don't know the difference?

If my approach was destructive as you say, I wouldn't have the beautiful collection that I have. Results are the only things that matter. Not dogma

Terri, Phals are some of the easiest and hardiest orchids to grow. You shouldn't worry. If Monkey can do it, so can you.

"Phals are some of the easiest and hardiest orchids to grow" Yes! but not everywhere.

Orchid Society in Sydney, Australia

Orchids benched last 12 months = 1130

Phalaenopsis Hybrids benched last 12 Months = 25.

I have no experience in Pa but I've read that at that latitude they can tolerate some direct sun. I think solar exposure for phals is varied depending on latitude. So local advice on the subject might be best. Here in South Florida, no direct sun. Terri, repot will be easy for you with your Catt. experience. Save the roots!

I'm in Jersey.....Your phal can take direct sun during the winter months when the sun is lowest in the sky. From spring into summer if you must give them direct sun, it's safest in the early to mid mornings and late afternoons. Anything other then that and your asking for sunburn.

Terri...I just picked up my very first Catt the other day from a discounted rack at one of the home improvement stores. I figured I'd give it a shot at rehabbing it. What has been your experience with that type?

Cj I'm surprised to hear that you live in Jersey. I thought you might be the same cj who was active on this forum many years ago, but I don't remember him being from the NE. I always peruse the Orchid Gallery and would like to see pics of your specimen phals. I am also in the group who struggles while trying to grow the beautiful phals.

I have been on the forum for quite some time. I will make another post as to not hijack this one, unless the OP doesn't mind, then I will just post some here....

I'll throw this one up here real quick until the OP lets me know what would be appropriate on her thread. This one is one of my favorites. It's over two feet across from leaf tip to leaf tip. I've had this one for over three years and it's been re-potted twice.

I personally love aerial roots. It's natural for them to make these.

Lets see how well it blooms? That's what its all about.

Jane

Mine? This one bloomed twice last year. It actually had a flower spike on it when I put it outside this summer.

Terri,

I live in western Ohio and I'll add that the phal needs more warmth in winter than the catts. Also, I've had many of Norman's phals and I always struggle with them in the packed spagh they use. I replant or 'lessen' the spagh ASAP, but your mileage may vary. Next fall it will need a cool down period to induce spikes. I leave a window open for a few weeks at night in late Sept/early Oct to help.

Good luck,

Bob

Since bringing all of my phals in two weeks ago, they are ALL spiking simultaneously. It took me a couple of years, but they are all synced to the process now. It's a good feeling. After the heat of the summer, the three or four weeks of dipping temps spur them on like clockwork.

Thanks for your help along the way Jane. You always ended up giving me good advice.

I'll post pics in a few months.