Phal Orchid Seedling Care

[wishonafish]

I picked up some phal-type seedlings at a show a little while ago. I have been looking all over the web for how to take care of these things. I assume that they take the same sort of care as the mature plant. They are potted in a loose bark medium. I have seen that several people put their seedlings in sphagnum moss after deflasking them. I am thinking this might be something to try. I can post pictures of these if you'd like. Currently they seem to be doing well. Any tips or ideas to help bring these to maturity would be great. I figure I'm in for a long haul. I haven't read anything about how long these take to mature, but I am totally up for anything.

Thanks in advance for all your help!!

[Kmac]

I have several seedling phals. One came to me in sphag, and I am keeping it there til it gets a bit bigger...but being very careful not to overwater. The rest I am treating just like the bigger guys, but on a small scale. They are in (fine) bark mix, in (small) plastic pots, and get watered just before they dry out. The hardest thing for me is keeping water away from the crown...its harder for me on small plants, but very important.

Good luck.

[wishonafish]

In the bark mix they are in now it's rather impossible to keep the water from their tiny crowns. Pieces of it are about the same size as their tiny leaves (2inches)... So, I think I should put it in the finer bark mix that I have my other Phal's in, given your information. I've got a lot of air movement and that seems to dry everything faster. Thanks for all of your information!