Out of the few orchids I have, it seems the ones left in their original containers (even though they look cramped) are the ones doing the best. The ones I re-potted just don't seem as happy as the others.

It does look happy. But if you wanted it out of the pot you soak it in water. Enough water for over the top. Also with phals always keep water out of the crown. It can be deadly. Let the roots go where they want and let it grow. It looks a little on the dry side. How much and how do you water?

What is sunset21?

I'd leave it be. Looks good to me. Does the clay pot have drainage holes?

The pot doesn't have drainage holes unfortunately. I water it once a week by filling up the pot, letting it soak for a few minutes, then pouring it out. Sunset 21 is a micro climate in Los Angeles - I'm on the east side - so hot and dry basically - not near the coast. So if I leave it I may not be able to add bark in the future - but do they need it? Maybe it will just grow up around the pot and it's fine?

It will have to come out of the pot at some point, when it's time (I'd say anytime) break the outer pot (hammer) and be careful to try not to break roots, if a little of the old pot sticks to the roots that is OK. Pull/cut the plastic pot off and then trim any dead roots. Stuff it back into a pot (clay with holes) that is a little larger than the root ball and 'lightly stuff' a little orchid bark around the edges and in any accessible areas. Continue to water once a week by running water through the pot until you get a good stream running out of the bottom of the pot. Soak it good and you should be able to follow your same weekly routine. You may want to get a tray to sit it on to contain any excess water, just for house keeping reasons.

Good luck,

Bob

I don't think it's necessary to repot it at this point, it looks happy there, and the way you're watering it works great. As was suggested above: when you are ready to repot it, soaking the whole thing for a while, will soften up the roots. You'll be able to nudge the roots off of the pot at that point. I've done it a bunch of times with no lasting damage. Plus, when you do repot it, the phal will take some time to adjust to its new pot, and then start growing new roots like made. It will be fine!

Just curious what you ended up doing? (I hope you didn't break the pot.)

I haven't done anything yet! ;) I was just rereading everyone's comments and trying to decide... Lily, do you think I shouldn't break the pot? I am being indecisive. It's so happy that I hate to mess with it. But on the other hand it seems like maybe I should remove it sooner than later, before more roots attach themselvers. But on the other, other hand, maybe I will do more harm than good....

Don't break the pot. You must not think it's ready to move otherwise you'd have removed it and put it in another container. I would wait until you have motivation to move it. You'll know when.

Instead of breaking it and repotting, why not just use the pot in a pot method?

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1564112/pot-in-a-pot-in-a-pot-concept?n=50

By the time you "know it's time", it is probably going to be too late and the plant will already be suffering, why wait if that is the case?

Every time I've seen, heard or done pot-in-pot, it was with pots that had drainage.

In my opinion, keeping an orchid in a non-draining pot is "asking" for trouble. That said, at least knock or drill a hole in the bottom of the ceramic pot, even if you go with pot-in-pot.

A fun kind of thread as far as everyone's opinions, keep us informed as to what you do or don't do.

Good luck.

Bob

Bob, almost all of my phals are in non-draining pots. I fill to soak, I drain it really well, and the non-draining pots keep my orchids nice and humid in my dry office air. I'd have a lot more problems if I didn't put the mesh pots in solid cache pots, as the orchid above is. Once you've figured out your system, orchids are quite hardy.

I laughed when I read Bob's response because any time I've asked anything about orchids, I get multiple responses. Use ice cubes, don't use ice cubes (I don't), don't move it out of it's pot, move it out of its pot, etc. If you've had houseplants for years, then go to orchids, it's a learning curve. For example, if a houseplant in soil is becoming root bound, you would re-pot. But with orchids, they like being snug. But how do you know when they are too snug? As you have asked.

I think if you have it in bark or some type of bark mix, then you don't have to worry as much about rot. I've decided to leave mine in those clear plastic pots with a lot of drain holes, so I can see when I need to water. I wait until the moisture droplets on the sides dry out below the mid-line. Then I water while holding it over a plastic container, and continue watering and letting it drain until I think everything has been moistened inside the cup. Then I discard the water in the container.

But I set the plastic pots inside an orchid ceramic pot. That way it's decorative, but easy access to seeing what's going on below.

What I would do, is pick up the orchid right now, slowly and remove it from the outer pot. If it starts breaking off roots, then I would take something like a thin metal ruler and work the roots away from the pot. Then I would take a better look underneath and decide. But that's me. You have to decide what's best for you. There is no wrong answer here, obviously.

A fishing filet knife is better than a ruler. A fresh sharpened edge helps. And soaking, lots of soaking. And add a root stimulant to the soak. My choice brand is maxi-crop. It works magic. Excellent for a wounded or shocked orchid or for that matter any plant loves it.

Thank you everyone for all the advice! After reading through, I followed the fishing filet knife suggesting and was able to get one of the roots to pop off without breaking it. So - I'm now soaking it - and will try to pry the roots away. I don't have a new pot for it but will get one tomorrow. Once it's out I will be able to see what's happening better. If its roots are coming out of the inner pot it is time for a new one right? Or should I let it rest for awhile and then cut that away at some point in the future? I guess there are various answers to this question. I lean towards keeping it in a larger pot with drainage for awhile to let is recover from the removal. Those roots are on there tight!!! And growing FAST. Major lesson learned: if someone gives you an orchid, do not assume the pot it comes in is ok for more than a single minute. ;) Also fun detail - this was an accidental acquisition - it was misdelivered to our neighbor, who thought it was ours, and gave it to us - we never did figure out who it was for. It had no return address and was addressed to "A" from "S" and had a very heartfelt thank you note. So I feel like I am trying to take care of it for "A", whoever and wherever they are.

Update: I was able to remove it. Two roots broke a little bit but most I was able to separate with the knife. The holes in the plastic are so small I'm not sure how I can cut the plastic away without sacrificing the roots growing through the tiny holes.... should I try to do that right away or let it rest?

Good job on the removal.

If it were me, I'd completely remove the plastic pot. I would cut the pot using sharp scissors and do it from the top down through the holes vertically where there are roots coming through the small holes. When you get to where the roots are coming out of the holes, just be careful in cutting the pot away from the roots. The roots coming out the bottom holes should be done basically the same way.

After the removal, I'd put it in a pot that's @1" larger than it's current one.

Good luck,

Bob

Wow- great job! It looks healthy to me. Good call on the knife- and you still have the outer pot for another plant.

Thanks Bob and Lily! Bob - to pester you one more time - would you put it in a clear plastic pot 1" larger? or into a glazed or terra cotta orchid pot?

I like clear plastic pots for phals.

Me too (plastic pots). Totally your preference. With the plastic I can see when it needs water easier than with an orchid pot. And....the shape of the pot is important (obviously, lol). Way harder to get a plant out of an bowed shaped pot than one that is larger at the top than the bottom.

Just thought I'd post an update: My nursery didn't have plastic orchid pots or clear pots and said any plastic pot would do. I thought about cutting some holes in a green plastic pot - but then found a clay pot with holes in it that a neighbor gave me a while ago. Cleaned it (followed bleach treatment instructions) and repotted the Phal in new orchid bark. The leaf has grown quite a bit and it's got lots of new root nodes which I think is a good sign? Next time I may order a clear plastic pot - I like the idea of seeing the roots. But I also have noticed I can feel how damp the clay is and that helps me decide when to water (if it's cool to the touch, wait). Does anything seem off/wrong about how I've repotted it from the images? Thanks again to everyone for the help!

You did a very good job and your orchid is showing you that it is happy. I think next time see if you can find bark a little larger. It is fine now. But larger chunks will allow more air around the roots for a longer amount of time. Not much bigger. In a couple of years you will need to repot again. The clay pot will aspire and have faster evaporation. So your watering frequency might need a little adjustment...

thanks! I'm wondering too if it's better to pour water through the pot, or set it in a large bowl and let it soak for a few minutes. Before I repotted I did the latter. But given there is a lot more bark around it, and it doesn't all the little holes it had in the original plastic pot I worry about root rot. Thanks for your advice and encouragement.

It is OK to soak but not OK to re use the water on the next orchid. If you do you will share any pathogens and they may all get viruses. Keep the center dry on the phals. Otherwise water the easiest way.