Successful Phal Rescue

[78Terp]

My herbal dispensary had 2 Phals potted together, in a decorative pot, from their Grand Opening 2 years ago. I have helped them with it over that time. But being poorly potted, it was an exceedingly difficult task to water it correctly or well. So over the 2 years the Phals went into decline. I had decided before I left to go to shopping one visit, I was going to take them a Phal that had just begun to spike at home and to bring theirs home. I did and they appreciate it. I have had lower herb prices since and one of the 2 Phals is ready to go back to them already after only 2 months.

The one that is ready to return home lost its center leaf, it died. You may be able to see the brown of it in the image. So you all know what has to happen. A basal keiki.

Well, within a month it had popped that basal keiki and then within another month, the mother plant has a spike emerging. This is it today.

I'll return it to them on Saturday, I need to go shopping!




---------- Post Merged at 05:55 PM ----------

BTW- The pot seems large but there was a massive root system with this phal and it did require that large a pot. Probably the reason why it has done so well.

[ksriramkumar]

Looks very nice and great rescue job Harvey. Sure it would do great under your TLC

[zainal abidin]

Well done Harvey you did a great job I can see very plum healthy keiki.

[Sheryl]

Nice job, Harvey! They must love you!

[JDT]

Saved by Harvey!!

[Chris in Hamilton]

Well done Harvey!

[moniluhum]

Just wondering with a potting mix of this kind which looks like it would dry out very quickly, how often do you water and what is the growing environment? I have been growing mine under perhaps less airy fir bark mixture and am trying to decide if I should change to sphagnum. I am growing these under lights.

[78Terp]

I buy a bark, sponge rock and charcoal mix from my local orchid nursery. I add some coconut husk chips. The mix does get a soaking before I pot up in it. My watering schedule is 2 times a week though during the summer I may water every 3 days. Most of mine are under T5's. Many do get to go outside June to September and then get watered daily depending on the weather.

[Traci]

Very cool Harvey.
Monica, I go back and forth about spaghnum in our climate. I know that yours are under lights so that does generate a bit more heat but I find for me the spaghnum stays too soggy in the winter when the sun room might be 65 or 70 for extended periods of time. I afraid of them dying each winter as it is. I find that with spahghnum it's either soggy or bone dry. I have my Dracula in it and I still have to spray him every day but he is in a net basket. I know that Ray uses the air cone pots and I have some of those with some mini phals and they seem to like it with the mix that I use.