HELP!! my Phal please

[rosie]

Hi this Phal was looking a bit seedy, had it in the bathroom, all winter, spring. The lower leaf has been looking like this for a few weeks now. It is in the shadehouse now, with the other orchids, but we have been having rain, rain, rain and it is summer now. What should i do, to save this Phal. I trimmed the roots back, they are green inside. Please advise.

[Kmac]

Since you have some roots that are still alive, I would pot it up in a bark mixture, and keep it on the dry side for a bit. But, I am going to check back later & see what more experienced growers think...I have a couple of phals, but wouldn't claim to be expert...

[rosie]

Thanks Kathi for your input. I hope I don't lose this Sogo Yoshida.
Annette

[kiwiorchids]

i had one in my bathroom for about 6 months and it did almost the same thing, just not as bad.i since put it on my fishtank and it seems to like it with the warmth from the fluro tubes and humidity. also, it gets quite a bit of light to. maybe something like this?

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Cut that spike off and Spag and bag this phal and keep in low light. This guy needs some time to grow some roots. If you have rooting hormone, please add that to the roots before wrapping in loose, damp sphag. The bag should not be sealed but should work as a mini greenhouse keeping the orchid humid, but not overly wet.

Cheers,
BD

[rosie]

Hi Bruce, thanks for the input. I have applied rooting hormone to all the remaining roots and stump, wrapped in moist s.m. in an open zippy bag, in the dark of my laundry. When, (and if) roots develop, how long should they be, before repotting. Another question, what do you recommend the potting mix should be for this Phally? I have other orchids, in the shade house, but these Phals. of mine were kept in a bathroom, over Autumn and Winter on a gravel tray, but maybe some water got too near the bottom of the pot?

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Hi Bruce, thanks for the input. I have applied rooting hormone to all the remaining roots and stump, wrapped in moist s.m. in an open zippy bag, in the dark of my laundry. When, (and if) roots develop, how long should they be, before repotting. Another question, what do you recommend the potting mix should be for this Phally? I have other orchids, in the shade house, but these Phals. of mine were kept in a bathroom, over Autumn and Winter on a gravel tray, but maybe some water got too near the bottom of the pot?

Hi Annette,

Does your laundry room get some light? The orchid needs light, just not alot of light when growing new roots.

Regarding your potting mix. It is really dependent on how you water. Some people swear by sphag and others (like me) avoid it because it stays too wet. Here is a video of Repotting a Phalaenopsis Orchid that shows how to repot and gives you the list of materials we use when repotting phals here.



Also, read this page on the RVO Orchid Care site.

Cheers,
BD

[rosie]

Thanks Bruce, I will put the Phal. back into the bathroom, in it's baggie, where it will get the light. My original question, was how long should the roots be on the keiki, before it is removed from the host orchid. The video on repotting is v. good, but would you use this kind of potting mix for a keiki?
And oh I forgot, happy b.day for the other day. I got onto the site after the event.
Regards

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Hi Annette,

Thanks for the b-day wish.

(I did not see your original question about the keiki - sorry) The roots should be two - three inches. I let them get as long as possible before repotting. Patience is very helpful when growing orchids. And yes, we remove the baby plants and pot them up into our standard mix because of the way we water. That said, we would not put a new seedling in our bark mix just out of flask. It would first go into a sphag compot to develop until it is ready to grow on its own.

I don't have a video on removing and potting up a phal keiki, but here is one on potting up a dendrobium keiki. The basic idea is similar.



Cheers,
BD

[kiwiorchids]

it was your birthday bruce!? happy ( belated) birthday!

I have one phal, and i always repot into bark. i have heard they like the air around their roots more than most, and like it to dry out between watering. thats why our society saying regarding phals is "sphag is a phally killer. bark is a Phally filler." the filler part means that they love it and it makes their roots plump up, telling us they are happy. but, whatever floats your boat