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

[priz_m]

I am sooooo very excited!!! I just got my s/h kit from Ray and today I am moving mi NOID mini phal to this new medium and I can't wait for it to benefit from this.

Any tips or things to consider that may not have come in the written instructions? I REALLY want to get this right

I will post of the process tomorrow

Happy growing to all!

[Dorothy]

I only have phrags in S/H but I am excited to see how things go for you with your Phal as many have had much success with it ..

[quiltergal]

It is VERY important that your plant be showing new root growth before you make the transition. If you do it without new growth you risk losing the plant. Basically all the old roots that were growing in bark will rot in the new medium because they aren't tailored to it. You need to have new roots emerging to take their place. I did not wait and nearly 9 months later they are still in the process of recovering.

[priz_m]

I'll surely keep you posted Dorothy.

Thank you for the heads up Terri. This phal had a near death experience when it almost lost all of its roots to damp moss a couple of months ago, that's why I repotted in bark, it had 2 little roots at the time, and plenty of aerial roots as well. I will find out for sure if its grown more when I take it out of the pot.

A couple of things though, it has (what seems to be at plain sight) a healthy spike and leaves.

What would you guys recommend? should I wait longer to make the transition?

Thank you for all your advice.

[quiltergal]

Priz M, you're going to want to wait until you see new baby roots emerging from the side of your plant before you make the transition. If your plant is going to bloom I'd wait until it was done. Usually new growth starts after the bloom cycle finishes.

[priz_m]

well I really haven't seen that

should I un pot and check if shpag-n-bag is needed?

[kavanaru]

Priz, my experience is that Phals are not that sensible to the change to S/H... you can also see in some forum threads and and also in Ray's forum that other people had the same experience. I have moved Phals to S/H even in bloom, without loosing anything

however, if you plant is already stressed, it could be different. Try using some rooting hormones, or just the S/H version of the sphag and bag method: keep it in S/H but cover with a bag (check regularly for fungi!) This method helped a lot two of my plants (Cattleya hybrid and Aerangis rhodostricta)

[priz_m]

Originally Posted by kavanaru

Priz, my experience is that Phals are not that sensible to the change to S/H... you can also see in some forum threads and and also in Ray's forum that other people had the same experience. I have moved Phals to S/H even in bloom, without loosing anything

however, if you plant is already stressed, it could be different. Try using some rooting hormones, or just the S/H version of the sphag and bag method: keep it in S/H but cover with a bag (check regularly for fungi!) This method helped a lot two of my plants (Cattleya hybrid and Aerangis rhodostricta)

Thank you kavanaru!!! so much to learn! so little time My phal was stressed indeed but is been a couple months now, I'll go ahead and repot it in s/h and take LOTS of of the roots and the whole process that way you guys can see what I see and provide further (and extremely appreciated ) advice.

[snow]

hi priz m
i also changed some phals to s/h in dec with plenty of old roots .after transferring i kept them barely wet for a month and the old roots turned nice and green; which i could see through the clear plastic pots.
i,ll try to take some pictures, though i am not a good photographer. that was my experience

[snow]

i just too ksome pics of some phals in s/h for 3 mnths
ps these are the original roots when transplanted, except they have grown a bit more.
hope this helps