WHAT KIND OF POTTING????? for my phal - Orchid Board

help · #1 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 12:43 PM

Hello all,

i know this is the quiestion you all probably get a million times a day, but i am new and i dont know.

what kind of potting shou;d i use for my phal

camille1585 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 01:02 PM

Hi Help,
Yes, this question comes up a lot, but we're always glad to give an answer, so don't worry!

Are you talking about the pot or the medium? Phals are ephiphytic orchids, which means that they need lots of air around their roots. For medium you can you a bark based orchid mix, or sphagnum moss. Sphag can be tricky if you have a tendency to over water. But it does seem to work well in dry climates, for people who don't water too much. Most people prefer bark medium. Try to get good quality medium, since the stuff sold in big box stores and garden centers usually has too much fine stuff in it, or has peat added. If you do get bark, make sure to soak the medium overnight before potting up the phal. New bark doesn't hold water very well, so soaking beforehand helps a lot!
For pots, you can use clear plastic pots or clay pots. Jut make sure that the pot is not too big, phals really do better if they are a bit root bound. That usually means using the smallest pot in which the roots can comfortably fit.

jkofferdahl · #3 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 01:25 PM

I was going to answer this, but after reading Camille's post I can't think of a thing to add.

help · #4 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 02:35 PM

thanks, that helps alothttp://www.orchidboard.com/community/images/smilies/bow2.gif although i have heard that spagum mpss is bad. i live in pennsylvania and there are not any orchid specialty supply stores. but there are garden supply stores with special parts devoted to to orchids. where should i get the soil, and pot

Narnia · #5 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 04:53 PM

Camille/ How do you feel about LECA? I am interested in maybe repotting my orchids in it when their time comes, but I haven't really hard anything about it on OB.

help · #6 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Narnia

Camille/ How do you feel about LECA? I am interested in maybe repotting my orchids in it when their time comes, but I haven't really hard anything about it on OB.

whats LECA

kavanaru · #7 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by help

whats LECA

LECA - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

LECA is used commonly for Semi-Hydro and works well with this method for many people... (there is a forum here in OB only for semi-hydro, where you can get a lot of good info)... However, it is not easy to start the plant in it (although, Phals normally do very well) = The trick is to move the plant when it is growing and shooting roots!

S/H seems to work better if you have high humidity, as otherwise the top layer of LECA would dry out too quick and can burn the new roots (can be solved with more frequent waterings and/or adding a "temporal" layer of Sphagnum, which you just take away when the roots are long enough and deep in the pot - as always, some people don't like this, but it work for others!) It's all a matter os testing whether it works for you...

LECA alone, would need more frequent waterings are you also would have to be more carefull when fertilizing, in order to avoid salts building up around the roots and burning them!