hello, I am new to this obsession, and tips? - Orchid Board

AlisaDawn · #1 03-30-2009, 07:00 PM

hello,
I am new to the this wonderful world of orchids. To make a long intro short, I got my first phal last Nov. After almost loosing it because it was in regular potting soil, it now has a new leaf coming in, and a few new roots. I have since adopted 4 others for a total of 5 phals. ( thats all I am sticking with for now).
so do any of you have any tips or advice for a beginner?

Zoi2 · #2 03-31-2009, 12:05 AM

Hello AlisaDawn, and welcome to the OB! It sounds like you're on the right track so far, just make sure you water when the roots tell you it's time (silver color), give it humidity and light.

sticking to your 5 phals

Joann

SP2340 · #3 03-31-2009, 03:03 PM

Hi Alisadawn, welcome to the board!

priz_m · #4 03-31-2009, 04:25 PM

Hi Alisa welcome to the OB! are there any pictures of your phals?

RosieC · #5 03-31-2009, 05:30 PM

Hi Alisadawn and welcome to OB.

The best tip I can give is the same as Joann said. Don't water on a set schedule but wait until the roots are silver before you water again. Also if possible have a clear pot so that you can see the roots right down to the bottom, when they are silver all the way down, then it's time to water again (at which point they go green). If the roots are still green then don't water.

AlisaDawn · #6 10-01-2009, 06:24 PM

Thank you everyone. I am sorry for the late reply! I still have my phals,plus 1 cattleya. I do think I am going to loose one of my phals unfortunately. I went away for a week this summer, before which I watered all of my houseplants ( I have a ton!) I left specific instructions to my mother-in-law to NOT WATER any of my plants, as I would only only be gone the 1 week.
When I came home, all of my plants had been watered! I immediatley set out to check the roots, and repot. I ended up having to trim on all of my orchid's except for the cattley. 2 of the phals were flowering at the time, but I held my breath and "apologized" the whole time. in this process Inoticed my schilleriana's newest leaf had begun to rot! I used great care while repotting, and even took out the cinnamon. Next went the second newest leaf. It is down to just 1 leaf and barely and roots. I put it in a baggie with potting medium, but I fear it is just too late! Oh, it was not in spike or flower at the time.
Oh, the madness!

Nic100 · #7 10-01-2009, 09:42 PM

Maybe there is a simple solution to that... next time you go on holiday you'll have to book an extra seat on the plane for the 'chids.

for a speedy recovery!

bellini girl · #8 10-02-2009, 12:17 AM

AlisaDawn: Sorry about your casualities..you'll simply have to go out and get some more

AlisaDawn · #9 10-02-2009, 12:43 AM

I hadn't thought about bring them w/ me, that's a good one!
My husband said he would replace it for me, so at least he is trying. It is just infuriating, it was doing so good !

Oh, well... I am still hoping for somewhat of a miracle. I can bring myself to throw her away.

greenbean · #10 10-02-2009, 01:04 AM

Sorry to hear about your schilleriana. I am quite attached to species phals, and that's a real shame. I would be holding on to it just like you. Personally, I would let your husband replace it and hope that the first one recovers somehow, that way you'd have two! As long as there is still a little bit of green on an orchid, there is at least a slim chance of a keiki or something.

Your mother-in-law is the exact opposite of my parents. I have to leave about half of my houseplants and some of my orchids with them when I'm at school, and I have to make sure that my plants GET watered! Though I also had to recently make sure that the orchids were being watered properly, i.e. being removed from their slip-pots and taken to the sink to be watered. Last time I went home, they were sitting in water because my mom was just watering them in their drainless covers!

And here's my advice for a new orchid owner, especially one like you who also has lots of houseplants. Make sure you have LOTS of room, and in your case a very patient, understanding husband. Maybe you won't have to get rid of half your "normal' houseplants to make room for your orchids! (I had to because for some reason my parents frowned on me taking over every horizontal space that received sufficient light for plants, and because that meant my mom couldn't use those horizontal spaces for her own random junk)