My newest additions and some modifications. (Your opinions please!)

Hello all,

Hope you are doing well,

After my unfortunate mishap with my phal about a month ago.
http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...-question.html
http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...y-dilemma.html
I unpotted that flower last Sunday and found out that the roots were almost dead, only had 2 good roots left, So i decided to experiment and I cleaned the flower, cut off all the roots and placed in a water culture, hoping it will live again.

I don't know why that happened, the Phal seemed to be doing really well especially since it was placed in S/H for more than a year.

However, as my good friend "Halloamey" advised me to acquire new orchids and keep growing.
I purchased two new Phals and an Oncidium (I think? correct me if I'm wrong.)

When I purchased the Phals, I focused on the roots health, number of roots, number of leaves and health of the stem. At the end I looked for flower colors that I don't already have.







I am a bit worried about this Phal's leaf, please advise.



As for the Oncidium? the flower had already lost it's flowers, the flower shoot is all dried up and brown; and I purchased it for a fraction of its price, The bulbs looked healthy green and pulp.





My question is the following:

I want to repot the new acquired Orchids into S/H using hydroton.
Is it OK if I repot them now while they are still flowering? The current medium is a bark mix and I am not comfortable with it, because they are still in their shipping pots!
What about the areal roots, should I force them into the hydroton medium or keep them outside as they are now in the bark mix?
Can the Oncidium be placed in S/H hydroton medium? If yes should I place the bulbs above the Hydroton pellets? (is there a pictorial thread of an oncidium being repotted into a S/H medium?)
Does the size of the S/H pot matter for both the Phals and the Oncidium?

Looking forward to reading all your replies and advices.

Thank you all in advance.

Hi Johnny ! Your new Phals and Oncidium looks nice. If you want to repot into SH I would cut off the spike right at the base, so that the plant can divert energy into making new roots and growing, rather than on the flowers.
As for the aerial roots, DO NOT force them into the pot, these roots have developed for aerial growth, they will die and rot in the constant humid wet environment of SH. New roots will grow into the SH medium that are adapted to this kind of environment. Simply leave the aerial roots where they are and keep misting them.
Oncidiums do very well in SH. You should keep the bulbs about half an inch above the level of the media. Only the roots should be in the medium.
Earlier it was though that for SH size of pot was not very important, that is true from the perspective of water and humidity, but not so much from that of air movement. I would not put them in very big pots. If they are currently in 6 '' pots, put them in a 7 or 8'' pot. Make sure that none of the old roots are immersed in the reservoir at the bottom, for the same reason that I mentioned for the aerial roots, soon you will have new roots that will grow into it.

Regards Amey

Originally Posted by Halloamey

Hi Johnny ! Your new Phals and Oncidium looks nice. If you want to repot into SH I would cut off the spike right at the base, so that the plant can divert energy into making new roots and growing, rather than on the flowers.
As for the aerial roots, DO NOT force them into the pot, these roots have developed for aerial growth, they will die and rot in the constant humid wet environment of SH. New roots will grow into the SH medium that are adapted to this kind of environment. Simply leave the aerial roots where they are and keep misting them.
Oncidiums do very well in SH. You should keep the bulbs about half an inch above the level of the media. Only the roots should be in the medium.
Earlier it was though that for SH size of pot was not very important, that is true from the perspective of water and humidity, but not so much from that of air movement. I would not put them in very big pots. If they are currently in 6 '' pots, put them in a 7 or 8'' pot. Make sure that none of the old roots are immersed in the reservoir at the bottom, for the same reason that I mentioned for the aerial roots, soon you will have new roots that will grow into it.

Regards Amey

Amey,

One quick question, regarding the Oncidium, Do I keep all the leaves in your opinion?
Will it matter if I keep the Phal's spikes after in repot them? or is it imperative to cut the spikes.?

Thanks.

Very good acquisitions .

If you want to repot immediately I would cut the spikes. The other option would be to let the flowers wither away and then repot them later.

Originally Posted by empiref

Amey,

One quick question, regarding the Oncidium, Do I keep all the leaves in your opinion?
Will it matter if I keep the Phal's spikes after in repot them? or is it imperative to cut the spikes.?

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Halloamey

If you want to repot immediately I would cut the spikes. The other option would be to let the flowers wither away and then repot them later.

Thank you Amey, like I said earlier, the Phals are still in the shipping pots and the bark medium doesn't look like it can hold.
I will do what you say!