How to water a deciduous Phal. lowii

[vegetalmatter]

I've heard that people who grow Phal. lowii don't allow it to go deciduous ever by keeping it moist year round. I just received mine in the mail this week and it came with two very brown crispy leaves that fell off immediately. I am not sure if this happened at the nursery or it dropped while being delayed transit where I imagine it was dry and cold for about a week.

The mount it came on was falling apart and the moss very old so I just remounted it on this plank.

My question is, does anyone have experience caring for a lowii while it has no leaves? particularly with watering? Should I not water it until I see new growths or keep it moist like I would normally?

[DirtyCoconuts]

i dont know this species off hand, i may have a seedling but I am no expert.

BUT, i would switch that moss to OVER the roots and put the roots on the slab...then they are kept moist and they can attach, here you are letting the moisture leave and encouraging the roots to attach to the moss

i'll see if i have one and let you know but if i do it is mounted upsidedown with a little sphag over the roots or completely bare

[Mr.Fakename]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

BUT, i would switch that moss to OVER the roots and put the roots on the slab...then they are kept moist and they can attach, here you are letting the moisture leave and encouraging the roots to attach to the moss

Nope nope! This is currently the only way this Phal can photosynthesize.


You have two choices here:

• Keep it dormant/force it into rest period - put it somewhere bright but short days - possibly near a window, reduce watering to simple misting when roots slightly dry, no food.
  This should help with flower induction and possibly start several growth points.
  
• Make it grow again - put it somewhere very bright, as warm as possible, only misting as well, but with food.

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[DirtyCoconuts]

that's crazy, is that then deciduous or whatever the term for the ghost respiration process is?

also, don't most deciduous plants pause their photosynthesis in winter/dormancy?

I am genuinely asking, not challenging, as i am not versed in this one

[Mr.Fakename]

Lowii and other mini Phal (parishii, lobbii, wilsonii...) are deciduous in nature, yes.

They can even survive and thrive without leaves if they get enough light via their root system!

I'm not sure of the intricacies of dormancy photosynthesis though, sorry.
I just know it's important to give these Phal strong light even in winter, because they adapted to live in deciduous forests and they get full sun when trees shed their leaves.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Learn here every day, thanks!

[vegetalmatter]

Originally Posted by Mr.Fakename

Nope nope! This is currently the only way this Phal can photosynthesize.


You have two choices here:

• Keep it dormant/force it into rest period - put it somewhere bright but short days - possibly near a window, reduce watering to simple misting when roots slightly dry, no food.
  This should help with flower induction and possibly start several growth points.
  
• Make it grow again - put it somewhere very bright, as warm as possible, only misting as well, but with food.

Thank you both DC and Fakename. Moss above vs below the roots was my internal struggle as well but I figured it would be better to allow it to photosynthesize at least one other way if it wanted to.

I will likely try to make it grow again by giving it some light misting and fertilizer and hopefully we'll get some green soon

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[DirtyCoconuts]

on my leafless orchids i use a shawl of spanish moss over them to prevent any burn or too bright light and to make a moist micro climate and an indicator as to the dryness/wetness of the mount

i dont know if you can get that easily where you are but its a thought


also, i realized i confuse manii with lowii and do NOT have this phal...apparently, good, cos i would have killed it

[vegetalmatter]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

on my leafless orchids i use a shawl of spanish moss over them to prevent any burn or too bright light and to make a moist micro climate and an indicator as to the dryness/wetness of the mount

i dont know if you can get that easily where you are but its a thought


also, i realized i confuse manii with lowii and do NOT have this phal...apparently, good, cos i would have killed it

Spanish moss I think might even be native in Texas. I use to not like the not-so-tropical look of them but I'm starting to come around. My two Chiloschista don't to do much of anything so maybe that will help.

DC, I assume you of all people must be growing the Florida-native and very famous Dendrophylax lindenii?!

[DirtyCoconuts]

growing, killing, same diff lol

they are a really odd orchid and they like what they like and dont compromise lol