Moving Phal to s/h First Timer!!! :D

[priz_m]

To tell you the truth I was staring at it, like "please don't die" and as one of the leaves fell off I was like "what is that???" Turns out there were 2 new roots fighting to grow and I asked myself "have those been there all along?" Apparently the leaf being droopy and me not paying close attention missed the miracle of first root, but boy was I happy!!!!

[priz_m]

This is my Phal today oh me sooo happy!

weird thing though, the roots are growing outside the pot, instead of into the media, which leads me to believe the pot is in now is too smal perhaps?

Any thoughts on this?

Thank you guys!

[Ray]

If that was my plant, I'd move it at least into a 6.5" pot.

[priz_m]

Sounds like I have some shopping to do

[priz_m]

Well I moved my phal to a bigger pot only 2 of the new roots were maageable enough to go into the LECA.

AND!!!!! there's something else growing there!!!!! is too early to tell but it may be a flower spike

I just don't want to take it out of the bag, perhaps it wasn't humid enough for my phal, any humidifiers you'd recommend? or should misting alone do it?

Ok I'm happy nontheless

[Swamper]

and then what happened?

[priz_m]

Hi Swamper, It has been so long that I wasn't sure you were posting on my thread.

Well in the end s/h just didn't do it for me. My poor phal went back in the bag to regrow the roots it lost to s/h. It regrew some, but I was fearing for the worst. After many many months, I finally repotted in a LECA & bark mix, and I am very happy to report that it is growing a new root and a new leaf. So slowly but surely it has recovered, and while I am not certain if it will bloom for me next spring I am extremely happy it is still alive.

This has taught me to never ever give up on my chid until it gives up on me.

Thank you for your interest

[Ray]

Priz - the most common reason a phal does not grow well in S/H after being established (as you apparently did in the smaller pot), is too cool of a temperature.

In a drier medium, evaporative cooling has limited effect, but in S/H, it is a constant cooling force on the roots that they don't like. Don't forget that low humidity also favors evaporation.

Sometimes, a difference of only a couple of degrees is the difference.

[blackorchid]

Oh...I just realize what a problem that I have. I have 2 phals that established in the spring in S/H....I don't know if it would pass the winter here though....I usually keep my house cool in winter, possibly lower for an orchid in S/H.... I don't know if my phal will withstand it though....should I change it to the regular potting type instead??? it's doing so well in the summer, I really need some help. I have a B. nodosa, Maudiae paph, Angraecum didierii, Maxillaria tenuifolia. Which one is a better fit for S/H if the phals are about to move out?

[Ranchnanny]

Priz_m I agree with Ramon I have moved my phals in bloom and in various stages of root growth with no problems. Using KLN or something like that will help get roots growing. I love the s/h medium and will never go back to bark.


Sheridan