What's my Phal doing?

[JP020366]

Hi

I have had this Phal for a few weeks and it has developed a 'growth'. Not sure if it's an aerial root of a flower spike losing direction.

It seems to be growing quite quickly...this is about 2 weeks growth.

Any ideas??

Cheers

John

[camille1585]

Congrats, that's a spike!
Where are you keeping the plant? If the plant isn't getting enough light or if all the light comes from one side, spikes will grow in the direction of the light source. You either need to give the plant a quarter turn every few days while the spike grows (but stop once the buds appear) or you need to move the plant somewhere that has better light.

The mix and visible roots look really dry. How often are you watering it? In clear pots, a good way to tell if phals need water is to look at root color. Green roots means the plant has enough moisture. White/silvery roots means that it's time to water.

[JP020366]

Thanks Camille

It's inside but unfortunately the humidity is fairly low. I mist the Phal's every day and try not to water too often...only every Sunday at this stage. I've killed several phals with kindness...giving too much water too often. I actually have two on life support, one in a plastic bag emulating the phag and bag method and one still in a pot with no roots but some trying to start.

In this Phal, the growing medium is a mix of chip and fir, the original mix. But I am mainly using a course mix in the others, again trying to minimise the chances of over watering. And you can see I am trying to use clear pots so I can tell when the medium is getting dry.

The roots in the medium of this Phal are quite well but ones above are getting dry. In fact, all my Phals with aerial roots seem to dry out fairly quickly in this environment. Not sure what else I can do about this.

Any advise appreciated. I'm in Sydney...getting warmer now.

Cheers

John

[camille1585]

It's best to water when they really need it, so when the roots you see in the pot are white. I used to struggle with low humidity too, which made the top of the pots dry quickly. What helped was to mist the top of the mix and visible roots everyday. That way the top roots didn't dry out too much between waterings, and it helped avoid too frequent waterings which would have ended up rotting the roots in the pot. When in doubt about watering, wait a day or so. Phals can tolerate dryness much better than excess moisture.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Have you tried a thin layer of moss on top of the bark? Could keep some of the moisture in there a bit longer if it's drying out too fast. By thin layer, I mean just enough to cover the top. I don't recommend packing a whole bunch in there.

Yes, that growth is a spike.

[JP020366]

Thanks guys

Appreciate your comments.

Have now moved it near a west facing window (no direct sun though) and have put some phagnum moss on top of all the phals. I was given some from a member of the local orchid society (which I have recently joined!!).

Cheers

John

[kiki-do]

Hey these guys know way more than I do, but I can't help but think that is a root and not a spike. The top of it isn't mitt shape but smooth and root looking. Unless my old eyeballs are playing tricks on me again....been known to happen once or twice.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by kiki-do

Hey these guys know way more than I do, but I can't help but think that is a root and not a spike. The top of it isn't mitt shape but smooth and root looking. Unless my old eyeballs are playing tricks on me again....been known to happen once or twice.

True, the tip doesn't look very spike like! Look at the spike part itself, there are bracts on it. Now unless that is a root who is all confused and wants to be a spike, roots don't have bracts.

[RosieC]

I agree it looks like a spike. I tend to stake them even at this early stage to try and train them upright. I use very loose loops of wire so that they are not held tightly to the stake and can still grow.

[dounoharm]

congrats on your spike!!!! enjoy!