well initially I had some success (at least didn't kill the Phals right off the bat), but I had periods of neglected them I am sorry to say - and then I think I went over-board in the other direction, and over-watered ...

absolutly stunning sonya!!!!
looks so happy and healthy
great growing

stefan

thanks Stefan :blushing:

OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS! :bowing
STUNNING. I'm so jealous.

btw... I didn't see your reply, I will go finding it. I have had a very hectic few days, 9 year old boy b-day then 9 year old's b-day party with 6-9 year old boys, need I say more? :lol:

I should say!!! And then some!!! :) Inverted net pots, eh? I will look at my roots and water as you have. I shall mend my overwatering ways.

hehe - yeah - I have learned that they do better getting very near dry before watering - going by the root color - waiting until roots were no longer green, checking the skewer at that time shows media is almost dry at that point. The one in chunky bark, with inverted net pot inside would likely be harder to over-water than the one in sphag, but I try to wait for media to be near dry before watering to be safe ...

You could also use a regular small plastic pot with drainage holes, inverted inside your pot - I have done that with some other plants - tho I do like the net pots for providing lots of air ;)

got it! I will mend my ways, I promise. Sometimes it's hard to tell if the skewer is totally dry, or? I need to obey what I've heard people say and "if in question, just wait another day".

I wonder what it is in my brain that thinks I need to water? What is the switch in my head that thinks I need to drown the poor plants? If I could just identify that, I think all would be well. :rofl:

yeah - I know - if you touch the skewer to your cheek or upper lip you can feel some moisture - or sometimes it feels dry, but cool - I've been waiting til the skewer feels dry, but maybe just barely cool - or even waiting a day after that. Tho if you have clear pots and can monitor the root color - wait til roots are no longer green. If I am not sure - I do wait a day ...

Don't feel bad - I was killing mine too - and I know plenty of others have as well - by over-watering. I always read they should be slightly moist - and I guess the emphasis should be on slightly! I was watering mine as I do my oncidiums and onc inter-generics, which I keep on the moister side (tho I now have discovered a couple Oncidiums that like to get about dry out a bit before being watered) - and it seems Phals don't want to be THAT moist constantly.

I still have a couple I have been trying to recover from my over-watering ways ... (those were the lucky ones that at least didn't DIE from over-watering - but have no roots)

good luck!

k, I will put emphasis on "slightly" and in my case, and wait a day after the skewer seems nearly dry. I swear, if I would either just get another hobby, I wouldn't have as much time to obsess about my orchids, and (some) would likely benefit from more 'neglect' from me, so they don't have to grow gills. ;)

I swear I will mend my overwatering ways, and one day post photos of a monster phal that I haven't killed!

yeah I've been letting this one get just about dry to dry ...