Mini Phalaenopsis compromised plus no new growth in long time
Hello again!
This time I'm here to discuss my mini Phalaenopsis which I've had for over four years. This little bugger has always been potted in a sphagnum moss medium; last spring I repotted it in what I now realize is a MUCH TOO LARGE pot with the moss (oops, I kept some of the old stuff) and my store-bought Orchid mix of charcoal, lava rock & bark, but mostly moss on top as this is what it's lived in since I've had it. I always only used to water it when it dried out completely then filled the tiny 1-2" terracotta pot completely with water and let it absorb it all, any left over was dumped out.
Over two years ago the spike died and never came back. I've thought I killed it several times but managed to keep it alive. It's lost and grown several new leaves since I've had it although it hasn't grown a new one in maybe six month. It also hasn't had a very good root system in a long time. Right now on the surface it looks like it has one healthy root and I'm not too sure there are any better than that as I pulled the bundle that it is of itself and moss out last night and without removing the moss I don't see any roots. At the same time that my full size Phalaenopsis' leaves started to go limp and wrinkly so has this one. It's not nearly as wrinkly or limp but it is. I've been watering them (I think this happened because I've under-water afraid I'd over-water) but not too much has changed other than that it's not getting any worse. I'm going to repot it today, probably still in the moss but back into a super tiny pot (don't have the old one).
In addition to asking if you have any tips with regard to how to make its life better (like my others, I'm going to start fertilizing for the first time, is it okay at this stage?), what do you have to say that it's never grown a new spike in years, only some leaves here and there? Is putting it back in a very tiny pot (given its lack of roots) the best thing to do? What about a tray of pebbles and water below it? Is it true that putting air roots under the medium might kill them? An air root might be the only thing I have right now, should I bury it in the medium (not sure I can as it's no more than 2 inches if that) when I repot?
Thanks for all of your help everyone, my Orchids will be oh so grateful and so am I. ;-)
Lotis
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