Potting/Watering

[Nan]

Hi all. I am new to orchids...so please help! I purchased a Phal from Lowes. It is potted in bark...and had TONS of sphag piled on top of the bark. I keep hearing everyone talk about air flow to the roots...so should I remove the sphag from the top of the pot? Also, when misting, should I mist blooms and leaves...or just the leaves? ...and one last thing...I have a well. Can I use well water to water my orchid? I also just purchased an Aliceara Sweetheart Jonel (Oncid, I think???). What routine should I use for this one? Thanks in advance for your help.

[cb977]

Hi Nan
I personally don't like spag except for protecting roots when I'm mounting a 'chid. I'd remove it...but then again, I'd be potting it too I know it's not what you're "supposed" to do but I want to see what's going on underneath so I can fix any problems that may be lurking right away.

I do A LOT of misting...I avoid misting the blooms and I try not to get any water in the crown of the plants. If some gets into the crown, I dry it out.

I have Aliceara Butter Buds 'Pacific Nova' and have moved it around a number of times, trying to find it's happy place. I think I've found it and it now sits in a high light area.

I don't know anything about the qualities of well water so I can't give you any advice there. I use rainwater...and when the barrel is empty, I go back to using RO water.

Good luck, please keep us updated on your progress

[Nan]

Hi Susanne, Thanks for your advice. :-)

When you say your Aliceara is in a "high light area," what exactly do you mean? I have windows that face all four directions. My southern exposure windows get direct sun through the window. Indoor temps are up about 75 in the daytime and a little lower at night. I keep a ceiling fan on low during the day to keep the air gently moving, and the pots sit above a tray of water. So...is this southern window with direct sunlight ok for the Oncid? ...or should I be putting it in a bright window with no direct sun? I have the Phal in a West window, but at an angle where it does not get any direct sun...but it is a bright window. Should it go to a north window instead?

...and my Phal has roots coming out the top...and some old dry roots that had come out the bottom. Can anyone tell me if that means I should re-pot after it finishes blooming? ...and it has a leaf that was folded and broken in the store. It stayed green for about a month after I brought it home, but now it is turning yellow. Should I cut it off or wait for it to dry up on its own?

Also...for the Aliceara...should the bulb part be plump and smooth or shriveled and flatter? As I understand it, that is the part that stores moisture for the plant...right?

I am so confused. I just want to find the right window in which to put each one, and figure out a watering and fertilizing routine that suits them...and find out when I should re-pot and in what medium. I really love the orchids, and I want to learn to care for them...but I feel like I have adopted two new children!! LOL! The Aliceara is named for a dear friend of mine by her grandfather and was nearly impossible to find...so I really don't want to hurt it...or worse, commit baby orchid homicide! :-(

[Nan]

...also...what is RO water?

[markr]

Water filtered through a Reverse Osmosis system. RO water is very soft (it has a very low mineral content) which approximates the pure rainwater that many orchids prefer.

[sjMagoo]

Hi Nan! Welcome to another orchid lover

Don't be concerned too much with the roots climbing about - some phals like to send out aerial roots. So when you repot after blooming don't try to bury them. I would just keep your phal in indirect or filtered light ( like back away from the south window ) and happily damp - perhaps mist the aerials too. But like Susanne says, be careful not to let water stand in the crown. If you know your tap water is not softened at all, it will probably be ok for use on your plants - later, when you get obessed ( it will happen, brace yourself ) you will have learned enough to make a decision on an RO setup. I have been using normal tap water that has sat at room temp for overnight, and my 'chids do fine with it.

Have fun! This is a great place to learn

[cb977]

Nan...sorry for not reply sooner
I see Mark and Sarah have answered your questions
Lots of folks use tap water, once they know what it's composed of. Have your water tested and then you can make the wisest decision.
I'm one of the obsessed that Sarah spoke of...only rainwater for my 'chids

[sjMagoo]

Susanne, this is a good time to ask a question I have often thought -about rainwater - do you treat the water with anything or just use it straight from the sky? The image that keeps coming to mind is a barrel of dark liquid full of squirmy little critters. Doesn't it collect a population of unwanted beings after it mulls for a bit?

I can only ponder to which experience from childhood that makes me bring that image to mind...

[cb977]

I have seen an additive for rainwater users but I don't use it. Any muck is settled at the lowest level and when the water stops flowing freely, my husband cleans it out. Good hubby

We have had little lizards (Anoles) come floating out into the bottles we fill for transporting
They hit the ground and take off running!!!

[sjMagoo]

"We have had little lizards (Anoles) come floating out into the bottles we fill for transporting"

just a bit of natural fertilizer, eh?