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Lopsided Phalaenopsis (moth orchid)

shazza 3shazza 3 Posts: 197
in Problem solving
Hello. I own two of these houseplant, a white one that has quite delicate flowers and a larger flowered pink one. They are both really healthy but the pink one has always seemed to me to be growing out of the pot instead of straight ( sorry if that doesn't make sense). When the pink one produces flowers they have to be secured with stakes and twine because they are so top heavy due to the shape of the base. I've attached photos of the two plants to show what I mean. When the pink one has finished flowering, it's going to be repotted into a slightly bigger pot. Could I reposition it so it sits more uptight ???? Thanks, Shazza.

Posts

  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Yes you can but don't take off any roots that are still alive. Cut back any brown ones and try to put it upright. Knowing them though it wont be long before they are climbing out of the pot again. They do need humidity so putting gravel in the saucer and allowing a small amount of rainwater in there that will help.
    When the flowers finish don't be quick to cut the flowering spike as often if it stays green it will flower again from the same spike.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    What I do.  Self-taught.

    1. Position the plant in its new bigger pot so that the growing point is heading in the right direction.

    2.  Don't be afraid to cut off the base of the plant, and any green roots, so that the plant can be set low and firm.

    3.  I usually cut the flower stalk right back.  The shape of the plant is more elegant and more easily trained.  Any delay will be slight.

    4.  Use as many sticks for support as are needed.  Remove them when they've done their job.

    5. If any roots grow out of the bottom, cut them back, they will destabilise the pot.


     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • shazza 3shazza 3 Posts: 197
    Thanks for the replies. I'm not bothered about the roots above the pot because they are quite light. The flower stalk has so many flowers on it and that's why it's unbalanced. All the previous flower stalks have never flowered a second time so I tend to chop them off straight away. I'll wait until it has finished flowering then put it into a new one ready for next time. 
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    bédé said:
    2.  Don't be afraid to cut off the base of the plant, and any green roots, so that the plant can be set low and firm.

      I meant: any green roots that are attached to the base of the plant.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • shazza 3shazza 3 Posts: 197
    Oh right, I didn't think you should cut those off. Won't that affect it at all ???
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Not if there are plenty of other roots.  It's a bit like disposing of the centre of an herbaceous perrenial after dividing it.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
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