Pink/Magenta Colored Phals harder to keep? - Orchid Board

orchidgirl82 · #1 08-08-2009, 10:33 AM

I know this is totally random, but has anyone found that the pink/magenta solid or striped phals are harder to keep alive? they are my favorite variety and whenever I get one it always dies! I treat it the same as my others but for some reason they always die.

Does this kind need different upkeep? I love them so much but can never keep them healthy!

BikerDoc5968 · #2 08-08-2009, 12:17 PM

When you ask, "Pink/Magenta, solid/striped", and mean flowers that look like these, then I would have to say no.... I think some plants from some vendors just aren't quality plants. I have some that it is a real job trying to get them to grow good roots while others just hang in there despite my abuse! So I am not absolutely certain flower color has anything to do with survivability.

jkofferdahl · #3 08-08-2009, 01:02 PM

I'd agree with Doc. I've never experienced more trouble with such hybrids - or species - than with whites, yellows, or any others.

Bird Song Farm · #4 08-08-2009, 01:32 PM

HI,
They do as well for me as any other colors. I think some of them just get in a snit. LOL
I'm wondering if you might be getting your plants from HD or Lowe's? They could very well be on the way to a good case of root rot when you bring them home.
Al

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #5 08-08-2009, 01:41 PM

From experience, no these aren't any harder than all the others. Color doesn't dictate anything. Color is color. Most Phalaenopsis species used to make up hybrids come from very similar types of environments. Of course there're the occassional oddballs, but for the most part it's not the case.

I used to work for a very well known orchid nursery here in the LA County area. I'm aware of the abuse they go through before they get to the general public.

Doc G isn't wrong with his statement about vendors and quality plants.

I'm also aware of your growing conditions and some of your growing methods. My honest to God recommendation is to put these things on a mount. You don't even have to hang them onto the wall. Get a wire mesh with the wiring arranged in a square pattern and roll them up in a cylinder or semi-circle and hang them up that way. I've seen Andy display his plants that way, and I've seen Ivan Portilla from Ecuagenera do the same.

Be creative when mounting and displaying your orchids, this is one of areas that allows for the license for creativity we have when it comes to orchid cultivation.

Look at all the pictures from Magnus A with his ceramic pottery covered Pleuros, and the Epiweb covered "tree branch" pic he posted in the mounting section of the OB. There are also many, many creative designs and displays from others here on the OB you can do by mounting them.

You're not limited to potting them up. Especially when you're not getting the results you want potted.

I mount ALL my Phals, so I'm not just preaching what I don't practice.

BikerDoc5968 · #6 08-08-2009, 01:46 PM

Al brings up a very important point for all of us no matter what orchid we grow. It has been written about here soooo many times but vendors and their retailers want to get their product to market and sold to us and don't much care how they do that. So many times they pack the roots tightly in moss or the bark is old and decayed and the novice purchases what appears to be a healthy plant only to find a month or so down the road that it has rotted roots. If you can't see the roots or there is a question as to their status, flower spike or not, remove from pot and inspect and then do what is required: a healthy plant will almost always reward you sooner or later with a beautiful show of flowers.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #7 08-08-2009, 02:32 PM

Alrighty...upon thinking about things and how I can get...

If I've come across as a pushy orchid dork, I apologize, and I'm just gonna say this.

Try mounting the Phals you own. Just try it out and see if you like the results you get.

Insult me later if you feel I've given you a terrible recommendation.

BikerDoc5968 · #8 08-08-2009, 03:09 PM

King, mounting sounds like a great idea... in nature they grow that way anyway. I use bark because in Michigan it is easier for me and I really don't have the room to hang them.... so out of education and interest, just how do you do your "thing" with phals? I assume you fix them to tree bark or some other kind of substrate and hang them or do they lie on benches or what? And do they require more watering/misting than a potted plant? And I don't think you're being a pushy orchid dork... like me yuo want to share something about which you are passionate! Good for you.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #9 08-08-2009, 04:08 PM

I put a layer of moss over the cork bark mount. Then I place the orchid over the moss. I'll work a few of the strands of moss over certain parts of the roots and leave certain parts exposed to the air.

The cork I use is the biggest one I can find for the larger Phals. They're known to grow on tree trunks and large branches from what I've seen in pictures.

Tie them all on with fishing line. I hang them up on walls. But like I said, you can hang them up on wire mesh like Ecuagenera does with their miniature Pleurothallid display.

BikerDoc5968 · #10 08-08-2009, 04:35 PM

King, do you have to water/mist more frequently because of this growing method? It would seem even though you are using moss, that the roots might dry quickly unless you are in a high humidity situation.