Question
QUESTION: I have 2 phals. One is around 10 years old and has a baby plant now showing its own roots. I am due to repot the two plants and plan to put them together in one large pot, but is it safe to split the baby from its Mum? They are currently in pots which stand on a gravel filled tray which is kept wet. They are all very healthy.

ANSWER: Hello Judith,

It depends!  If the baby has several roots over 2 inches long, you can safely remove it and put it in a small pot of its own.  

If you put both phals in the same pot, do not put them in too large a pot for their size, but one that is barely large enough to contain the roots.  

You're doing a great job with them, keep it up!!!  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the advice. I am just a bit puzzled as to why the pot needs to be 'tight' - mine have always had plenty of room so far and seem to like it that way. Would it be better to continue to allow them plenty of room, or would I be better to restrict the pot size in future?

Answer
Hello again Judith,

Normally, it is better to go with the smallest pot size because most orchids bloom better when the roots are somewhat restricted.  Another reason is that too large a pot size for the amount of roots could lead to root rot due to the media staying wet too long and it may still be fairly wet when watered again.  But, if the media they are being grown in does not retain lots of water, this lessens the possibility of rotting the roots.  

Having said the above, my suggestion is that if you have had good success in growing and blooming your orchids, I'd say keep doing what you have been doing.  No sense in messing with what works for you and the orchids.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.