Please help me save my Phal!!!

[anissa990]

Hello,

I am new here and I am afraid that my orchid is dying! I received it as a gift from a friend and I have never grown anything before. Please let me know if my orchid is healthy or not.

It originally looked beautiful with two spikes full of blooms. After about 3 weeks, one of the spikes started to look weak and the blooms started to die and fall off. Eventually, the entire spike dried up and I had to cut it off.

The other spike then rebloomed and looked healthy. I thought I was doing well with it, then I bought miraclegro orchid potting mix to replant it in after I noticed it starting to not look so nice.

It now looks like this and I fear that the roots are starting to decay, Please help!!

[anissa990]

This is what my phal looks like right now. Thanks!

[orchidlady]

Hi,



Can you provide some further information. Where are you growing the Phal. How much light? How much air movement? How often are you watering? That potting mix looks a little dense. Is it draining freely? Or is it holding moisture for quite a while? Phals like to have moisture, but don't like wet feet .

Susan

[anissa990]

I had it on my kitchen island. It doesn't get much sunlight but does get quite a bit of artificial light. I recently placed it closer to a window to give it more daylight. The potting mix is quite a bit different than what it came in originally. it is part soiland part woodcip. it is the miraclegro orchid mix. It has a drain hole but it feels like the soil might be kinda moist even though I watered it like 2 weeks ago.

[bluemoon]

Your plant look fine. Once all the flower fall off repot it. check out this post you will find direction on how to report. http://www.rv-orchidworks.com/orchid...rwatering.html

[clintdawley]

The leaves are nice and turgid..that's the most important pot.

The mix does look dense..like Promix or something.

[anissa990]

Should I keep it in that potting mix? Should I get something else for it?

[bluemoon]

If the mix it in right now is old replace with fresh mix. Moss should be fine cause phal like to stay moist.

[rnhunt]

I'm not sure why you repotted but it was probably better off in the old mix. The pot you are using looks plastic along with "Miracle-Gro" orchid mix which I have found to be Great for terrestials but sucks for any others because it holds too much water. Water 1X every week & a half the way you have it potted (make sure it dries out between waterings) Next time do not repot while it's blooming & make sure you use a mix with considerable more bark.

[orchidlady]

If the medium still feels moist after 2 weeks, you are going to need to be very careful about watering or the roots may rot. As mentioned previously, dry out between waterings. I am not familiar with the mix you used, but something coarser would likely be better. There are many bark mixes around that work well for Phals. Another thing that I do is put a layer of styrofoam peanuts at the bottom of the pot to help with drainage.

Susan