I repotted a Phaelenopsis into fresh bark about a week ago. It’s a small plant and evidently doesn’t weigh very much, because as the roots are growing, they’re pushing the stem of the plant up out of the pot. The tops of the roots are emerging above the bark, too. I realize now I could have pinned it in place while the roots restablished, but too late for that.
Should I repot it again, reburying the roots and pinning it down? Or should I just let it go and not worry about it? I’m inclined towards the latter; after all, new roots grow from up the stem and their tops are inherently exposed above the potting media. So that makes me think it’s probably not a big deal for it to be up out of the pot a bit.
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Without seeing a picture i think it’s fairly normal for the stem to be out of the bark a bit. You’ll also always have some aerial roots, so it sounds like it’s just doing normal orchid things!
Yeah, I agree - assuming most of the roots are still in the bark/moss, it’s fine. In the wild they hang off trees, they’ve got it covered.
Thanks! Definitely most of the roots are in the bark, about 4 inches cover and half an inch or so sticking up
Thanks for your comment! That’s reassuring that it’s pretty normal for the stem to be out of the bark. They’re not really aerial roots in that they were completely under the bark in the previous pot. It’s just the top half-inch or inch or so that’s moved up above the bark after repotting. Kind of fun that the roots are so strong to be able to lift up the plant like that!