New orchid from supermarket

[marisa]

Hello. I have never owned orchids before, (i have one "black jewel" though) although I raise lots of species of tropical houseplants. Anyways I bought this one at the local IGA and I am wondering what it is.....





You can see the pot it was sold in.....I have it housed above an aquarium (with no top) that evaporates a lot of water in hopes the humidity there would be good. Do you guys see anything else? Should I repot it? Any tips on this specific orchid? I love it. thanks in advance.

marisa

[Ross]

It's some type of Phalenopsis (don't know which one.) No real need for all aquarium stuff unless you want to. It will do real well on a east windowsill or you can display it on a table while it's in bloom. As for repotting, I wouldn't until it's done blooming (that might be a while). I like orchid bark for mine, others swear by spagnum and perlight, others use clay pellets designed for semi/hydroponics, etc. Since you've never grown these before I would wait to hear the recommendations and select the one that works best for you. Happy growing and welcome to the board.

[marisa]

Well thanks a lot!!!

I figure I shouldn't have much trouble learning orchids. Like I mentioned I currently grow many tropical plants, and I also raise crested geckos who come from an enviroment very close to what many orchids seem to need.

Because of the geckos I have orchid bark, perlite, vermeculite (spelling) and peat moss on hand at all times.

thanks for the help so far!

[Lagoon]

Hi Marisa, Welcome aboard, Where in Canada are you located
I need to start checking my local IGA
Ross has already mention what kinda orchid is it and what to look for in the growing media area. Some ppl grow these 'chids in bark mixture, others have different media.

I would change that sphag out, dont like the looks of it, to mushy.
I grow my phals in a mix of sphag and large coarse rok / perlite.
Works well for me.

[marisa]

I live in Ontario, south of Barrie. They had about half a dozen of these, yellow, pinks and dark pinks. All of them are only about 6 inches tall ten bucks. I figured what the heck....I'll grab one.

I think I'll change the medium to the bark pending other responses. thanks guys!

[quiltergal]

Looks like a very nice peloric phal. I agree with Ross, for me Sphag is a guaranteed disaster. I use coco husk/ charc/perlite mix, and am experimenting with one in semi hydro. I think I'd go back and get one in every color!

[marisa]

Don't say things like you would go back and get one in every color! LOL! My house is literally a JUNGLE already. I am soooo out of plant space it's laughable.

Not only are there plants on every available surface, but ALL of my crested gecko tanks are fully planted with tropicals. I'd love to place some orchids in one of the tanks as they have moderate temps, and higher humidity, but I'm afraid the geckos would destroy them unfortuantly. They are curious little buggers who'd love to not only climb all over the beautiful flowers, but taste them too as they LOVE the taste of pollens, or anything that smells "pretty" LOL!

I am going to change it to a mix of bark and I have some peat (coco husk) around here as well.

What about the container size? Bigger? Stay with the one it came in? Or?

[quiltergal]

Marisa, you'll want a medium that drains well and dries out fairly quickly. Phals can get root rot in the blink of an eye. That's why sphag doesn't work for me. I should have been clearer, I use coco husk chunks (similar to bark), not peat. I find that peat is too heavy, and retains too much water much like sphag.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by marisa

Don't say things like you would go back and get one in every color! LOL! My house is literally a JUNGLE already. I am soooo out of plant space it's laughable.

Not only are there plants on every available surface, but ALL of my crested gecko tanks are fully planted with tropicals. I'd love to place some orchids in one of the tanks as they have moderate temps, and higher humidity, but I'm afraid the geckos would destroy them unfortuantly. They are curious little buggers who'd love to not only climb all over the beautiful flowers, but taste them too as they LOVE the taste of pollens, or anything that smells "pretty" LOL!

I am going to change it to a mix of bark and I have some peat (coco husk) around here as well.

What about the container size? Bigger? Stay with the one it came in? Or?

I tried on purpose to not sway you to a certain mix, but those of us up north (I'm pretty close to you and know your area well) pretty much stay away from mixes heavy to sphagnum. Commercial growers use this because it helps them reduce watering. But our home environs with central heat in winter, tend to be pretty dry. This leads us to water more heavily in winter. So I have adapted to a bark mix (like others here have suggested) which I make up myself. It is pretty coarse fir bark (3/4" or so) with heavy hand of large charcoal. I sometimes mix in a bit of fine fir bark if I think the root mass is so thick the new stuff won't settle into the roots. I also soak the bark mix in Dynagrow KLN prior to using it. This gives the plant a little boost on new root production. Or I think it might .