I have a Phal that has many roots growing from the top. This phal had
a problems about a year ago with yellowing leaves. I removed the bad
leaves and repotted the plant. Since then it has grown several
healthy leaves but no flowers.

The roots on top are very thick and healthy looking. They branch like
a tree. I have several other phals. They also have air roots but
nothing like this.

Does this indicate any particular issue with the plant of is it
normal? When I water this plant should I spray the roots?

thanks

Jane,

It is not at all unusual for a Phal (or other orchid, for that matter) to
grow aerial roots. How ungrateful of them not to grow to our liking!

Just make certain to thoroughly soak the aerial roots when you water the
plant.

Diana

"Jane" wrote in message
...
I have a Phal that has many roots growing from the top. This phal had
a problems about a year ago with yellowing leaves. I removed the bad
leaves and repotted the plant. Since then it has grown several
healthy leaves but no flowers.

The roots on top are very thick and healthy looking. They branch like
a tree. I have several other phals. They also have air roots but
nothing like this.

Does this indicate any particular issue with the plant of is it
normal? When I water this plant should I spray the roots?

thanks

On Aug 15, 9:36 am, Jane wrote:
I have a Phal that has many roots growing from the top. This phal had
a problems about a year ago with yellowing leaves. I removed the bad
leaves and repotted the plant. Since then it has grown several
healthy leaves but no flowers.

The roots on top are very thick and healthy looking. They branch like
a tree. I have several other phals. They also have air roots but
nothing like this.

Does this indicate any particular issue with the plant of is it
normal? When I water this plant should I spray the roots?

thanks

Here's what it looks like:

http://home.comcast.net/~jbcamel/orchid.jpg

yep. take plant out of cache pot; put in sink; pour water generously
over aerial roots.

drain thoroughly, then put back in cache pot. i'd do all this first
thing in the morning so the crotch of the leaves has time to dry
before dark.

i have one that grew all its leaves in one direction, and a pile of
roots flowed over the pot rim in the other direction.

it was actually kind of cool.

(are you jane from the 'geeks??)

--j_a

I have a Catt that has a great root system in the pot - and above it! The
roots grow up into the leaves and attach themselves. Makes it hard to show
it, but it did get tagged for a blue ribbon at a show last fall. Nevermind
the number of Phals with upward/outward bound roots.

Diana

wrote in message
...
yep. take plant out of cache pot; put in sink; pour water generously
over aerial roots.

drain thoroughly, then put back in cache pot. i'd do all this first
thing in the morning so the crotch of the leaves has time to dry
before dark.

i have one that grew all its leaves in one direction, and a pile of
roots flowed over the pot rim in the other direction.

it was actually kind of cool.

(are you jane from the 'geeks??)

--j_a

This may be from left field, but I was told if you keep the medium a little wet that the roots will tend to grow there rather than reaching out and exploring for moisture in the air

The photo illustrates a question I've had. A lot of my phal's, while
seemingly happy, tend to tip and grow sideways. Being a fussbudget I always
have a tendency to want to turn them vertical. Which is better?


"Jane" wrote in message
...
On Aug 15, 9:36 am, Jane wrote:
I have a Phal that has many roots growing from the top. This phal had
a problems about a year ago with yellowing leaves. I removed the bad
leaves and repotted the plant. Since then it has grown several
healthy leaves but no flowers.

The roots on top are very thick and healthy looking. They branch like
a tree. I have several other phals. They also have air roots but
nothing like this.

Does this indicate any particular issue with the plant of is it
normal? When I water this plant should I spray the roots?

thanks

Here's what it looks like:

http://home.comcast.net/~jbcamel/orchid.jpg

What constitutes "better"?

In nature, you'll mostly see pals growing "flopped" over to the side. I
speculate that gravity takes advantage of the relatively small base compared
to the large plant mass above it, and "over she goes". It also helps
prevent water from standing in the crown, which helps eliminate a great
place for bacteria and fungi to grow, virtually eliminating crown rot.

Peter Lin, a grower of excellent phal specimens (bigleaforchids.com),
intentionally tips his pots to achieve that.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"eeyore" wrote in message
...
The photo illustrates a question I've had. A lot of my phal's, while
seemingly happy, tend to tip and grow sideways. Being a fussbudget I
always have a tendency to want to turn them vertical. Which is better?


"Jane" wrote in message
...
On Aug 15, 9:36 am, Jane wrote:
I have a Phal that has many roots growing from the top. This phal had
a problems about a year ago with yellowing leaves. I removed the bad
leaves and repotted the plant. Since then it has grown several
healthy leaves but no flowers.

The roots on top are very thick and healthy looking. They branch like
a tree. I have several other phals. They also have air roots but
nothing like this.

Does this indicate any particular issue with the plant of is it
normal? When I water this plant should I spray the roots?

thanks

Here's what it looks like:

http://home.comcast.net/~jbcamel/orchid.jpg

Makes sense, thanks for the reply.

"Ray B" wrote in message
...
What constitutes "better"?

In nature, you'll mostly see pals growing "flopped" over to the side. I
speculate that gravity takes advantage of the relatively small base
compared to the large plant mass above it, and "over she goes". It also
helps prevent water from standing in the crown, which helps eliminate a
great place for bacteria and fungi to grow, virtually eliminating crown
rot.

Peter Lin, a grower of excellent phal specimens (bigleaforchids.com),
intentionally tips his pots to achieve that.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"eeyore" wrote in message
...
The photo illustrates a question I've had. A lot of my phal's, while
seemingly happy, tend to tip and grow sideways. Being a fussbudget I
always have a tendency to want to turn them vertical. Which is better?


"Jane" wrote in message
...
On Aug 15, 9:36 am, Jane wrote:
I have a Phal that has many roots growing from the top. This phal had
a problems about a year ago with yellowing leaves. I removed the bad
leaves and repotted the plant. Since then it has grown several
healthy leaves but no flowers.

The roots on top are very thick and healthy looking. They branch like
a tree. I have several other phals. They also have air roots but
nothing like this.

Does this indicate any particular issue with the plant of is it
normal? When I water this plant should I spray the roots?

thanks

Here's what it looks like:

http://home.comcast.net/~jbcamel/orchid.jpg

We started *tipping* Phals a couple of years ago. Not all of them are hung
that way. If a Phal looks like a *basket case*, we put it in a basket with
spaghnum moss and just cut the hanger ends so the Phal will tip just enough
so that nothing can accumulate in the crown.

However, most of our Phals are in small Aliflor, which makes it kind of
tough to tip 'em without losing medium every time we water. And, some just
like to flop over regardless of what we do.

Diana

"eeyore" wrote in message
...
Makes sense, thanks for the reply.

"Ray B" wrote in message
...
What constitutes "better"?

In nature, you'll mostly see pals growing "flopped" over to the side. I
speculate that gravity takes advantage of the relatively small base
compared to the large plant mass above it, and "over she goes". It also
helps prevent water from standing in the crown, which helps eliminate a
great place for bacteria and fungi to grow, virtually eliminating crown
rot.

Peter Lin, a grower of excellent phal specimens (bigleaforchids.com),
intentionally tips his pots to achieve that.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"eeyore" wrote in message
...
The photo illustrates a question I've had. A lot of my phal's, while
seemingly happy, tend to tip and grow sideways. Being a fussbudget I
always have a tendency to want to turn them vertical. Which is better?


"Jane" wrote in message
...
On Aug 15, 9:36 am, Jane wrote:
I have a Phal that has many roots growing from the top. This phal had
a problems about a year ago with yellowing leaves. I removed the bad
leaves and repotted the plant. Since then it has grown several
healthy leaves but no flowers.

The roots on top are very thick and healthy looking. They branch like
a tree. I have several other phals. They also have air roots but
nothing like this.

Does this indicate any particular issue with the plant of is it
normal? When I water this plant should I spray the roots?

thanks

Here's what it looks like:

http://home.comcast.net/~jbcamel/orchid.jpg

i suspect it's genetic; i have some that grow straight up quite
nicely, then others that crawl sideways regardless of what i do. i've
learned to live with it and let 'em do their thing. (well, except
when they're trying to climb into someone else's pot, or stand on
their heads; one of al's bette's mary lucies is doing that at the
moment. i may have to tie it into its pot. i have an assortment of
rocks around to stick on pots when the occupants start tipping them
over.)

--j_a

Thanks all,

I just think they look odd, but no fighting nature.

wrote in message
...
i suspect it's genetic; i have some that grow straight up quite
nicely, then others that crawl sideways regardless of what i do. i've
learned to live with it and let 'em do their thing. (well, except
when they're trying to climb into someone else's pot, or stand on
their heads; one of al's bette's mary lucies is doing that at the
moment. i may have to tie it into its pot. i have an assortment of
rocks around to stick on pots when the occupants start tipping them
over.)

--j_a