Repotting the spotted noid phal

A phalaenopsis in need of repotting

     Lately, my little noid phal has started to look like it's trying to climb out of its pot.  Several roots are growing up and out of the media, even as the pot itself takes longer than ever to dry out.  Checking my Orchid Descriptions list I realized that it has been over a year since I last repotted this orchid.  All signs indicated that it was time to switch out for fresher media.

Old (brown) and new (green) phalaenopsis roots

     When I took the orchid out of its pot, it became immediately clear why it had been showing signs of dehydration, even though the media had been taking longer than ever to dry out.

     The orchid had its two old roots sticking straight into the middle of the pot, while all the new roots had grown into a circle near the surface.  As a result, as I'd wait for the media to dry out in the center of the pot, the majority of the phal's roots would be bone dry and thirsting near the surface. 

Freshly repotted phalaenopsis

     I cleaned out the original pot, and potted the orchid back in with fresh media.  Soaking the roots in water for 15 minutes beforehand helped soften them, so I had no trouble tucking all the roots into the middle of the pot.  Now the media itself is more loosely packed, while the roots are more evenly distributed in the pot, which will help make watering more efficient.

Phalaenopsis noID root growth update

     One benefit of growing phals in clear pots is the pleasure of watching new roots grow as they burrow into the media.  Some growers also claim that clear pots are beneficial to phalaenopsis health.  The argument bases on the fact that the roots are photosynthetic and like to avoid darkness.  Phals potted in clear pots receive more light to the roots, encouraging them to grow into the potting media, rather than out into the (often dry) air.  The way my new roots have been curling around the outside edges of the pot seems to support evidence of such 'light-seeking' behavior.

     This season's growth added 5 new roots to the old survivor's existing two.  Of these new growths, one has clearly decided to grow upward as an aerial root, while the other four penetrate into the potting media.  With this rate of growth, I'm sure the old orchid will be ready to bloom again in little time.